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Scores of Online Gambling Websites Will be Banned from Advertising in the UK

August 9, 2007

A new provision has been added to the UK's 2005 Gambling Act, that will see that online gambling websites that operate form outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will be banned from advertising in the UK.  The ban will pertain to all types of advertising medium, including, magazines, tv, radio, subways, taxis, etc.  

It is speculated that there is currently around 2,300 gambling website in operation and the UK advertising ban, which will begin enforcement on Sept 1st, will likely exclude close to a thousand sites, including some of the world's most popular brands,that operate outside the EEA.  Some of these brands include, William Hill, Littlewoods and InterPoker.  

There is one exception to this new stipulation however, if sites could pass a strict assessment of their regulatory standards they will be exempt from the ban and join the "White List".   The assessment will focus on such factors as, protection of children and vulnerable people, prevention of crime and keeping games fair.

A number of jurisdictions have already applied for this exemption, some failing, some making the cut and others still waiting for their UK advertising fate to unfold.  Among those who failed are Tasmania, the Netherland Antilles and the Canadian Reservation, Alexander.  Antigua and Kahnawakee are still in consideration.  So far, the only two regions to pass this stringent assessment have been the Isle of Man and Alderney.