Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe announced yesterday that overseas based gambling operators who advertise in the UK may face new requirements.

In response to rapid technological advances in online gambling, as well as the changing international regulatory landscape, the government is to explore ways to make the system fairer to ensure a more level playing field between British businesses and their overseas counterparts.


The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, working with the Gambling Commission, will look at a number of issues, including securing fair contributions from overseas licensed operators towards the costs of regulation, the treatment of problem gambling and the Horserace Betting Levy. The department will also look at the existing controls that apply to operators licensed overseas to ensure the rigorous consumer protections introduced by the Gambling Act continue to be upheld.


Sutcliffe said: "Technology has evolved at an incredible pace and online gambling has changed significantly since the Gambling Act was passed. Now is the right time to take stock of developments in Europe and elsewhere to make sure our regulatory system is as fair and robust as possible for all operators able to advertise their services in the UK."
The Department will consult a range of experts, including the remote gambling industry, and will report findings to Parliament before the end of 2009.