As you say, you can certainly base an online poker site in the UK, although not many have done so to date... taxes are much heavier than Gibraltar / Isle of Man etc. But this may change, depending on how heavy the EU wants to get about US Trade sanctions etc.
here's a few links for you Blueman:
http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk...?ContentId=260 - The UK Gambling Commision... these are the people who would licence and regulate an inline gaming operation from UK based operator.
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/...ambling_en.htm - European Single Market documens... lots of them.
and some gossip:
EU calls for US to change internet gambling laws - Peter Mandelson says European gaming companies should receive compensation for US ban
Hope that is of some use, Probably the EU site is of most value.
dave.