Online Gambling Regulation in the UK
Online Gambling is any type of gambling conducted online. This includes casinos, live poker and virtual poker. In the early days of online gambling the first online gambling venue open to the public was ticketing for the prestigious Liechtenstein International Poker Tournament. Nowadays there are a wide range of other gambling options available to individuals and businesses.
One of the best regulated markets in Online Gambling is the United Kingdom. The UK government has regulated online gambling companies to protect consumers and maintain a level playing field. Some of the regulation that can be found within the UK online gambling environment include limits on rollover winnings, minimum deposit requirements and age requirements for registration. The UK has some of the most progressive laws surrounding gambling, with some of the strongest regulation in Europe. The government has made it illegal to operate an online casino in the UK where live gambling is performed, but they allow offshore gambling companies to do business within the UK.
Online gambling sites that are based in the UK also have to follow strict laws regarding their activities and operation. In the UK they have to maintain certain standards such as ensuring that all of their sports betting sites are properly licensed and regulated, and that their software complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The UK also works closely with international and regional bodies to address issues that they may face with regards to online gambling. These include the World Trade Organization, European Medicines Agency, World Trade Organization, European Central Bank and the European Union.