UK Pushes for Offshore Gambling Controls

As reported by the UK Financial Times: "Britain hopes to persuade the offshore centres that are reaping the lion's share of the explosion in online gambling to sign up to new controls on the sites.

"Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, told the Financial Times she would host a summit in October to try to get international agreement on a new code of practice.

"Centres that host online gambling sites include Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Antigua and Costa Rica.

"The government plans to invite the International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation, along with ministers from all the main offshore gambling jurisdictions.

"However, Britain could face an uphill task in persuading offshore centres to put at risk a lucrative source of revenue by imposing much tighter regulations…"

2006-06-20