Government announces gambling reform

All online gambling operators active within the UK will have to obtain a license with the Gambling Commission if they want to offer games, including poker, in the future, the government revealed this week.

Minister for Tourism and Heritage John Penrose dropped the bombshell after headlines surrounding Full Tilt and rival sites continue to dominate poker discussion in the wake of Black Friday.

Under the changes, a license fee will have to be paid by those operating outside of the UK, Penrose explained.

‘We are intending to move as fast as we can towards a system which will fix the problem of offshore betting,’ he added. ‘We plan to move to a system which will switch away from the current organisation which has driven many bookmakers offshore.

‘It means anybody based anywhere in the world who wants to sell gambling services to any consumer based in the UK will, in future, have to have a Gambling Commission licence.’