We have yet to see how effectively the UK Gambling Commission deals with illegal online gambling operators once the p.o.c. taxation and licensing regime is implemented, and that is definitely going to be watched with great interest.
First off, I suspect that the Commission will be quite demanding in requiring the applicants to provide full details so they can be tracked down in the event of any incidents of non-compliance, but that's perhaps the easier part of the problem - how to keep unlicensed operators out will be more difficult (they have lots of experience at ducking and diving from other jurisdictions!)
Looking at examples in other 'proper' countries that have embraced regulated internet gambling may give us an idea of how effective weapons like financial transaction and ISP blocking can be, or how active and heavily punitive police activity influences events...that's a little harder to assess, but it looks as if Denmark and Belgium are having some success in keeping outsiders out and making sure licensees behave themselves.
I think that much will depend on how effectively enforcement is applied - good industry intelligence, the collaboration of UK licensees and a very high profile, energetic enforcement strategy consistently applied could work IMO.
I hope that player expectations of the Gambling Commission are realised in terms of consumer protection, which as Richas says above should be at the heart of regulation (although I fear that in most cases the real reason for governments to get involved is money, money, money!)
One thing I really do hope is that the UK authorities show more professional knowledge and consumer sensitivity than the head of the GRA!
First off, I suspect that the Commission will be quite demanding in requiring the applicants to provide full details so they can be tracked down in the event of any incidents of non-compliance, but that's perhaps the easier part of the problem - how to keep unlicensed operators out will be more difficult (they have lots of experience at ducking and diving from other jurisdictions!)
Looking at examples in other 'proper' countries that have embraced regulated internet gambling may give us an idea of how effective weapons like financial transaction and ISP blocking can be, or how active and heavily punitive police activity influences events...that's a little harder to assess, but it looks as if Denmark and Belgium are having some success in keeping outsiders out and making sure licensees behave themselves.
I think that much will depend on how effectively enforcement is applied - good industry intelligence, the collaboration of UK licensees and a very high profile, energetic enforcement strategy consistently applied could work IMO.
I hope that player expectations of the Gambling Commission are realised in terms of consumer protection, which as Richas says above should be at the heart of regulation (although I fear that in most cases the real reason for governments to get involved is money, money, money!)
One thing I really do hope is that the UK authorities show more professional knowledge and consumer sensitivity than the head of the GRA!
