Petunia
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UK to give OK to US gamers [Exclusive]
The UKs Gambling Bill will allow licensed operators to accept players from the US and lead other European domiciles to follow suit, according to industry sources.
It is unlikely the move will prompt the UKs biggest bookmakers to change their stance on US bettors.
But the expected decision from the UK government could force jurisdictions such as Alderney and the Isle of Man to alter their legislation to mimic the UKs position, according to one source.
Both jurisdictions have clamped down on firms accepting US wagers in the past two years.
Alderneys move saw Sportingbet leave the island in 2002 and the Isle of Man suffered an exodus of operators during 2002 and 2003.
However, any move could still be put on ice after the UKs pending gambling legislation faced a set-back this week when the government released its reaction to the Joint Committees report on the land-based industry.
Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said limits on high prize slot machines will not be relaxed to the dismay of the offline sector.
Rank Group, the major offline operator and owner of Blue Sq, said it disagreed with the findings and would continue to lobby aggressively for improvements to the bill.
If the lobbying means the bill misses this parliamentary session it is unlikely to become law until 2007 at the earliest.
But Jowell said the government remained committed to the new bill and said the UK urgently required new legislation.
New protections are urgently needed and I'm confident we will be able to introduce a Bill to Parliament soon, Jowell said.
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The UKs Gambling Bill will allow licensed operators to accept players from the US and lead other European domiciles to follow suit, according to industry sources.
It is unlikely the move will prompt the UKs biggest bookmakers to change their stance on US bettors.
But the expected decision from the UK government could force jurisdictions such as Alderney and the Isle of Man to alter their legislation to mimic the UKs position, according to one source.
Both jurisdictions have clamped down on firms accepting US wagers in the past two years.
Alderneys move saw Sportingbet leave the island in 2002 and the Isle of Man suffered an exodus of operators during 2002 and 2003.
However, any move could still be put on ice after the UKs pending gambling legislation faced a set-back this week when the government released its reaction to the Joint Committees report on the land-based industry.
Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said limits on high prize slot machines will not be relaxed to the dismay of the offline sector.
Rank Group, the major offline operator and owner of Blue Sq, said it disagreed with the findings and would continue to lobby aggressively for improvements to the bill.
If the lobbying means the bill misses this parliamentary session it is unlikely to become law until 2007 at the earliest.
But Jowell said the government remained committed to the new bill and said the UK urgently required new legislation.
New protections are urgently needed and I'm confident we will be able to introduce a Bill to Parliament soon, Jowell said.
