The research was commissioned ahead of the first ever online gambling summit, hosted by Great Britain at Royal Ascot today. The summit will seek to secure international standards for the regulation of online, interactive TV and mobile phone gambling.
The research shows:
• there are nearly one million regular online gamblers in Britain alone;
• they make up nearly one-third of Europe’s 3.3 million regular online gamblers;
• Europe’s regular gamblers stake approximately £3.5 bn pounds a year – an average of £1000 each;
• there are now 2,300 sites across the world. A large number of these are based in a few key nations, with Antigua (537) top of the pile and Costa Rica in second with 474;
• the UK currently has 70 online betting sites, but no gaming (poker, blackjack, roulette etc) sites;
• women are becoming increasingly important in the remote gambling market. During the World Cup about 30% of those visiting key UK based betting websites were women.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell said
“This research shows that online gambling is on the rise and there is a need to do something about this at a global level, as well as in the UK. I want to secure international support for agreed standards of regulation. That’s why I called the summit today.
“Of course we also want online gambling companies to come onshore. We will welcome them here because we believe that by allowing those who want to gamble to do so over the counter, not under the counter is the best way to protect children and vulnerable people and keep out crime.
“But we won’t take part in a regulatory race to the bottom. On the contrary, if companies do come to the UK it will be because ‘regulated in the Great Britain’ will mean a website is subject to the most stringent controls and social responsibility requirements anywhere in the world. ”
The research was conducted prior to the US decision to ban the processing of payments for online gambling websites. It makes three recommendations:
• Greater international co operation including harmonised regulations to curb problem and youth gambling;
• Co operation with the gambling industry; and
• More research into the extent of participation in remote gambling
John Carr, new technology adviser for leading children’s charity NCH said:
“However good the new regime will be in the UK for online gambling, it might not be as effective if overseas websites simply ignore the high standards we have set. It is therefore very important that the Government is trying to persuade other countries to establish a similar regulatory framework.”
Notes to Editors:
1. A copy of the research is available on the DCMS website.
2. The Gambling Commission will regulate online gambling in Great Britain. They published proposed licence conditions and codes of practice for consultation in March 2006. To view a sector specific version of the proposed licence codes and conditions for remote betting aned remote gaming, please visit the Gaming commission website.
In November the Gambling Commission will publish the final version of the licence conditions and codes of practice.
