UK Online Gambling White List Excludes Thousands of Sites - 08-15-07

August 15 - Thousands of online gambling sites were left out in the cold following the announcement of the UK's new whitelist of gambling jurisdictions. The list includes only two jurisdictions outside of the European Economic Area,  Alderney and the Isle of Man, from where online gambling advertising will be legal in the UK.

The U.K. Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) acknowledged that around one thousands sites currently licenses outside off the UK and EU will not be able to advertise their services in the United Kingdom. The new advertising law is set to come in effect on September 1.

Needless to say, the Isle of Man is happy with the decision as it will force numerous offshore sites to reloicate their licenses. "

In a formal statement the DCMS said that it had rejected applications from the Netherlands Antilles and Tasmania, but that it was still reviewing that applications from Kahnawake (Canadian native territory) and Antigua.

If Antigua is not included on the list, many licensees like Bodog.com will have to review its position, especially after an aggressive European expansion strategy. Bodog currently awaits the outcome of their UK license application..

The impact of the new law is far reaching with well known brands like William Hill casino, Betfred casino and poker and Interpoker.com now prohibited from advertising.

The Isle of Man is excepted to receive a host of license applications and in other reports Antigua is believed to be appealing its exclusion. nfirmed with the magazine that it had received inquiries from a number of operators looking to relocate ahead of the white list announcement.

Companies like PokerStars.com will be smiling with their was recently granted Isle of Man license.