Gambling in the Press - Sunday Papers

Children at risk of big-stake gambling

The Guardian reports on the negative aspects of internet kiosks that are offering offshore gambling 'to children'. Essentially, it seems that legal internet kiosks are acting as portals to offshore casino sites and since these kiosks are allowed anywhere in the UK, naturally there's been a strong reaction to their accessibility by kids. The operators argue that since the casino is registered offshore - its not covered by UK law.

Whilst the operators are no doubt correct in their interpretation of the current laws, there needs to be some restraint in place to allow the gambling regulation to go through without too much restriction on the part of online casino operators. Whilst I have no issues with offshore gambling in the privacy of someone's home (thats what the internet is all about) - allowing a physical box in a public unlicensed area to offer offshore casinos is really giving gambling a bad name - that it doesn't need right now.

---

Internet poker is now a £15bn industry - but ministers vow to bring in new controls

Can anybody remember what we did before online poker came along? This story reports on a 24-yr old woman who's main source of income is by playing online poker. Over the past 2 years her winnings have topped £20,000.

The report goes on to claim that the industry is now worth an estimated £15bn. Not the 100's of billions often stated next to online casino figures - but now certainly the fastest growing gambling sector, so much so, that an independent regulator, PokerPulse, has been set up.

Once again, the new gambling regs are the core of the story - as Tessa Jowell finally mentions online poker rooms in her statement, saying; " Our gambling laws are out of date, in some cases going back as far as the 18th century...We need to update them so online poker rooms can operate from the UK, giving players the choice to gamble in a properly regulated environment"

I do think its the first time I've heard online poker mentioned by the government and once again shows how little has been thought out with regards to the new regulations and the internet

---

Israel overturns 2,000-year-old ban on betting at the races

In a story thats been making the rounds this week, The Telegraph reports on the overturning of a religious ban on betting in Israel. This week, the Israeli government approved organised betting on horses, overturning a ruling that goes back 2000 years - when it was ruled that pigeon races were not allowed under religious law.

The approval made way for a groups of Israeli and foreign businessmen to build a £20 million racecourse in the North of the country and makes way for the creation of 1000's of jobs, helping the depressed economy that currently exists in that part of the country.

---

---

Recommended Gambling Sites: William Hill | Bet365 | Betdaq Betting Exchange | Poker 365 | Betfair Poker | VC Casino | Littlewoods Casino | Online Bingo | Cyberslotz Fruit Machines | Games at Jackpot Joy