By Associated Press
LONDON — The British government said Friday it was setting up a new commission to regulate gambling, including bets made on the Internet.
The Gambling Bill, which overhauls Britain's outdated gaming regulations, was passed by Parliament and became law late Thursday. Officials hope that within months, a new commission, and a body of some 100 investigators, will be established to regulate the industry.
A major focus of the legislation is to regulate online gambling, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. Online casino companies will be allowed to operate from Britain for the first time.
Although the new commission will not have the power to regulate the practices of online casinos operating outside Britain, it could ban them from advertising here, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said.
"The commission will regulate all forms of gambling," said department spokesman Anthony Wright. "It will have the power to carry out investigations, bring about prosecutions, levy fines and void bets they consider unfair. Online casino operators can operate out of the United Kingdom for the first time. We believe that is a pragmatic response to what is an increasingly popular activity."
Associated Press
LONDON — The British government said Friday it was setting up a new commission to regulate gambling, including bets made on the Internet.
The Gambling Bill, which overhauls Britain's outdated gaming regulations, was passed by Parliament and became law late Thursday. Officials hope that within months, a new commission, and a body of some 100 investigators, will be established to regulate the industry.
A major focus of the legislation is to regulate online gambling, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. Online casino companies will be allowed to operate from Britain for the first time.
Although the new commission will not have the power to regulate the practices of online casinos operating outside Britain, it could ban them from advertising here, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said.
"The commission will regulate all forms of gambling," said department spokesman Anthony Wright. "It will have the power to carry out investigations, bring about prosecutions, levy fines and void bets they consider unfair. Online casino operators can operate out of the United Kingdom for the first time. We believe that is a pragmatic response to what is an increasingly popular activity."
Associated Press
