Jul 12 2011

UK Culture Secretary wants sweeping changes to egaming regulations

written by: Steve under News Comments: 1

The UK has long been considered one of the most lax jurisdictions when it comes to online gaming licenses, but that might all be changing in the near future as the UK Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is expected to introduce legislation in the coming weeks that will cause sweeping changes to the way the UK licenses offshore online gaming sites according to the Guardian.

The proposal comes after the ongoing issues that have plagued the online poker site Full Tilt Poker. In the months following the US crackdown on online poker sites, forever to be known as Black Friday, Full Tilt Poekr has seen problem after problem arise, and now these issues are starting to affect UK players.

While initially contained to the US market, Full Tilt’s troubles have moved across the pond after they saw their licenses pulled by the Aldernay Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), as well as the French regulatory body Arjel. Now, with UK poker players left wondering if they will ever see their money, the UK government has decided to reexamine their laws and licensing procedures to keep a similar scenario from unfolding in the future.

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media & Sport told the Guardian newspaper the following, “This highlights why the government is looking at reforming how overseas-based operators are regulated and we hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks,” According to the Guardian the UK government recently completed a “wide-ranging consultation on online gambling.”

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