In a move replete with scope for commercial exploitation, the Government proposes to legalise remote gambling conducted by onshore operators. These proposals, as outlined in several recently published position papers, will cover all forms of remote gambling – via the internet, mobile telephones and interactive TV. This is welcome news for gaming operators and punters, as well as for the Treasury, and it is likely to have positive effects for others, including software service providers. It may even give a boost to the telecoms industry.
The Government’s proposals have been made against an international backdrop of widespread regulatory uncertainty regarding remote gambling, as well as growing frustration on the part of some small countries with the reluctance of developed countries such as the US, Hong Kong and Australia to open their markets to this fast-growing activity. This diversity of approaches presents both opportunities and dangers.
