U.K. Threatens to Impose Online Gambling Ad Controls

LONDON – As reported by the UK Digital Bulletin: "The Government has threatened to bring in statutory controls over advertising for online gambling following evidence that operators are breaking the law.

"Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, has also asked the Crown Prosecution Service to consider taking legal action over online casino and poker advertising that offers incentives to gamble such as doubling the punter's initial stake.

"Jowell said action would be taken if advertising continued to cross the line.

"…The Department of Culture, Media and Sport warned that the Act provided the secretary of state with powers to restrict future gambling advertising, should self-regulation by the ad industry prove insufficient. It stressed that the crackdown under existing legislation is not about trying to catch out operators who are acting in good faith, but about stopping companies that deliberately flout the law…"