Gambling websites face advertising ban

Around 1,000 gambling websites based overseas will be banned from advertising in the UK under new rules announced today.

Littlewoodscasino.com, Interpoker.com and William Hill’s online casino are among the sites which will fall foul of the restrictions.

The aim is to stop unregulated gambling sites trying to attract UK punters, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Sites in the UK, Europe and other “white list” areas will be allowed to advertise on TV, radio and in print media, subject to UK advertising rules.

To make it on to the white list, countries must show they have suitably stringent regulatory regimes in place.

The new rules take effect on September 1, when the Gambling Act comes fully into force.

That legislation brings with it a relaxation of the current rules surrounding adverts for all types of gambling firms – such as casinos and betting shops.

Publishers, broadcasters and advertising companies found in breach of the new restrictions on overseas gambling sites could face fines or even imprisonment, the DCMS warned.

Culture Secretary James Purnell said: “I make no apology for banning adverts for websites operating from places that don’t meet our strict standards. Protection is my number one priority.”

Gambling sites operating from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Alderney and other white-listed countries will still be allowed to advertise in the UK.

Littlewoodscasino.com, Interpoker.com and William Hill’s online casino are among the sites set to be subject to the new advertising ban because they are all based in Netherlands Antilles, the DCMS said.

Today’s announcement follows figures released recently by the Gambling Commission which showed the number of people going online to place a bet in the UK is increasing.

Surveys carried out in the year to June showed 8.6% of adults had taken part in at least one form of “remote gambling” during the previous month – up from 7.4% in 2006.