Regulations in countries other than the US

[Wynton]

Does anyone have any information, or better yet, links to details about the manner in which the United Kingdom and other countries regulate the gambling sites?

My question is broad. I'm interested in the actual regulations and laws, as well any findings about the effectiveness of those regulations (from the perspective of the regulating nations).

[LinusKS]

The UK is in the process of implementing a new gambling law. I'm not too clear on the details, but to my understanding, it tries to do two things:

1.) Provide licenses to UK casinos so they can offer games on the internet, and

2.) Prohibit casinos that don't have the license from advertising in the UK.

It's called the Gambling Act of 2005. From section 330 "Unlawful Gambling" -

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(1) A person commits an offence if he advertises unlawful gambling.

(2) For the purposes of this section advertised gambling is unlawful if... in order for the gambling to take place as advertised without the commission of an offence under this Act it would or might be necessary to rely on a licence... and... arrangements for a licence... have not been completed...

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The section also says, "A person commits an offence if he advertises foreign gambling other than a lottery."

So basically, it looks like the UK is trying to recoup some of the income they're losing from places like Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, by bringing internet gambling back into the UK.

Why they chose to go after advertising, rather than gambling itself, or how they hope to enforce it, I don't know.


http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/50019--q.htm#330

[TruePoker CEO]

'Why they chose to go after advertising, rather than gambling itself, or how they hope to enforce it, I don't know."

They have experience with gambling advertising regulation. They view advertising as key to their market (given that they have betting shops on every corner it seems.) The aim is to keep ads "fair"/"accurate". (They have some really weird rules tho.)
They realize that "internet" ads will not be policable and likely will not try there.
They are realistic and regulatory, not moralistic and paternalistic.

[LinusKS]

Well, you might be right about the people that are behind HR4411 - that they're paternalistic and moralistic.

You agree, though, don't you, that the US - and every country - has the right to control/regulate/license gambling within its own borders?

[Zele]

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You agree, though, don't you, that the US - and every country - has the right to control/regulate/license gambling within its own borders?

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If it does so fairly with regard to foreign competition, at least if it is a WTO member.

[LinusKS]

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You agree, though, don't you, that the US - and every country - has the right to control/regulate/license gambling within its own borders?

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If it does so fairly with regard to foreign competition, at least if it is a WTO member.

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Well, at the moment foreign competition has a huge leg up, since foreign companies can ignore US laws, and US companies can't.

[Moneyline]

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You agree, though, don't you, that the US - and every country - has the right to control/regulate/license gambling within its own borders?

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If it does so fairly with regard to foreign competition, at least if it is a WTO member.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, at the moment foreign competition has a huge leg up, since foreign companies can ignore US laws, and US companies can't.

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At the moment they quite obviously have a leg up since there is no US industry; however, if American companies were allowed to set up their own betting sites they would be at a massive competative advantage over their foreign competitors. Regulated American sites would assure consumers of a fair deal (no more "it's rigged" conspiracies if the gov't is auditing the shuffle), easier means of funding and withdrawing from accounts (no need for 3rd parties like Neteller), complete safety of deposited funds (no PokerSpot fiascos). Personally, I would prefer playing at regulated American sites for these reasons and I know many others, both pros and fish, feel the same way.

This is all not to mention the fact that the income the gov't would receive from taxing the industry has the potential of improving my quality of life, or at the very least helping to decrease the budget defecit.

[LinusKS]

I agree with all your points, Moneyline.

Unfortunately, (legal) American internet gambling has one big obstacle to overcome, before it can become a reality - which is that - in the US, licenses are issued on a state-by-state basis, not on a national level.

Right now, foreign companies can (illegally) offer games to anyone, anywhere in the US.

A US company, that wanted to operate legally, here in the US, would first have to obtain a license from some US state, submit to regulation, pay for the license, and pay taxes on their earnings - and even then, it could only operate in the state where it was licensed - not in the other 49.

It would have to duplicate that process in each of the 50 states before it could get to the place where foreign companies are right now.

[Wynton]

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I agree with all your points, Moneyline.

Unfortunately, (legal) American internet gambling has one big obstacle to overcome, before it can become a reality - which is that - in the US, licenses are issued on a state-by-state basis, not on a national level.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's just one more argument for the federal government to regulate and license sites.

[LinusKS]

I would love to see such a thing. I don't think the Federal government is empowered to regulate or license gambling within the states, though. And, as a practical, historic matter, the Federal government has never tried to tell states they must either allow or prohibit gambling, within their own borders.

Even HR4411 only prohibits gambling if it's "unlawful" under state law, and it's not confined within the borders of a single state. --Which is also true of the other Federal anti-gambling laws that have gone before it.

[scorer]

Italy has banned online gambling and blocked many isp's from what ive been told.

[Wynton]

The Federal government could constitutionally regulate and license online gambling sites. It is just a matter of will.

[IronDragon1]

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Italy has banned online gambling and blocked many isp's from what ive been told.

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As near as I can tell-these regulations have not been to effective

[Mat]

Yes I see a lot of Italians on pokerstars.

I live in France and there's no law about internet gambling, pros don't even pay taxes on their winnings.