UK gambling plans hit roadblock

2006-11-08 13:15:00

The British government's attempts at promoting a culture of increased regulation within the online gambling industry are facing a new setback, it has been reported.

Addressing senior figures from the tourism industry last week, treasury minister John Healey admitted that the government was struggling to find a tax rate acceptable to both itself and online gambling firms.

In contrast to new US legislation, the UK has announced that it will welcome online gambling to its shores, arguing that the removal of companies that exist in tax-free havens would lead to a more secure system based on regulation and transparency.

But gaming firms have insisted that they will not commit to the UK until a tax rate is confirmed, with companies maintaining that the tax must not prevent them from remaining competitive with other global online gambling operators.

Senior Labour officials now privately believe that there is little chance of a deal being done, the Observer newspaper reports.

Last week it was revealed that there are now more than a million regular internet gamblers in the UK.

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