International agreement sought for gambling industry.

[Ian_go]

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is to seek an international agreement on how to regulate the internet gambling industry.

Ms Jowell is opening the first international summit to discuss the global impact of the massive industry, which already boasts one million regular punters in this country.

She is expected to urge delegates to think globally to ensure that children and vulnerable people are protected from "remote gambling" by telephone or online, that games are fair and crime is kept out.

But her attempts have already been thwarted by Washington's refusal to send a delegation to the summit, being held at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire.

Ms Jowell has warned that the US ban on internet gambling could fuel a rise in unregulated offshore sites.

There is currently such a ban in force in Britain but new legislation will do away with it next year, clearing the way for super casinos and an influx of online gaming businesses.

Speaking ahead of the conference, which is expected to draw delegates from more than 30 countries, Ms Jowell said that those registering in the UK would
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