Political opposition Conservative Party claimed that there are nearly a quarter of a million more people that gambled online last year when compared to 2007.
It was estimated by the gambling Commission that 7.4 percent of online gamblers had already developed a betting addiction. Tories suggested that there are even additional 17,760 people at present that has a problem too. They criticized on the labor government for failure to crack down online gambling sites which are based overseas, which has lesser securities such as contact numbers of customer support and limits on stakes. These sites will block from advertising in the UK market not unless they meet the regulatory standards of Gambling Commissions. Same with the remote licenses which will only be issued only once company comply with the rules. This is stressed by the MPs oppositions.
There would be an additional charge to adopt a standard British kite mark which will be a proof advises to their customers that their site is approved and safe.
The shadow gambling minister said in his speech, “The Government has been happy to sit idly by and do nothing to stop the surge in unregulated online gambling. With each year that passes more people are getting addicted to these sites which offer little consumer protection. Companies that advertise here must meet the UK’s regulatory standards. We must ensure that online gambling is done in a responsible and safe environment.”
Department for Culture and Sports objected on the Conservative’s calculations. They stated that there is only 0.6 percent of the population that is remained stable in gambling addiction up to present. The spokesman added that there is no basis on Conservative’s claim and that level of gambling problem has not risen since 1997. It doesn’t mean that because more people are gambling online is there’s also an increase with problem gamblers.
It was reported last year that there are 3.36 million adults, which is 5.6 percent of UK populations have been gambling online compared to 3.12 million or 5.2 percent the year before. This preponderance of gambling continues to occur on the National Lottery.
It is being proposed by the firms that an online gambling site can only obtain a license to advertise in UK if they are registered in UK or within European Economic Area. Or they can also obtain license if they are based in a country on the white list of approved nations like Antigua and Barbuda, Gibraltar, Malta, Alderney and the Isle of Man.