The UK government has confirmed that it will not be granting White List status to any new applicants as it undertakes a review of the legislation around the UK Gambling Act.

The freeze on jurisdictions being granted White List status, which allows egaming operators based in those jurisdictions to advertise in the UK, comes as leading UK-based bookmakers earlier this year called on the government to create a level playing field so they could compete with operators based in offshore jurisdictions. The government will look at the 15% gross profits tax levels and costs such as the horseracing levy and VAT the UK-based operators are subject to and assess how offshore operators can be made to contribute to the levy and issues such as the fight against problem gambling.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which is carrying out the review, confirmed the White List freeze but would not comment on any other issue. The review will address some of those wider European regulatory issues. But this does not mean the UK will go down the same route as countries such as France and Italy, which have effectively ‘ring-fenced’ their markets to EU-licensed operators by only allowing operators licensed on the mainland to advertise and take bets from their citizens. The review findings will be submitted to the DCMS by the end of 2009.

source - www.mrgc.com.mt