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Purnell Stands by New Restrictions

The online casino industry is reeling from the new “white list” restrictions in the UK that take effect in mere weeks at this point. The 2005 Gambling Act gave the UK’s Department of Culture, Media, and Sport new powers over the gambling advertising industry. And now that the Gambling Act is about to take effect, the Secretary of Culture, Media, and Sport, James Purnell, is firm that the new UK restrictions and policies will only serve to better the global online casinos industry and to set the standard for internet gambling regulations.

Purnell has stressed when questioned about the UK’s new regulatory minimums that “white listing has actually helped drive up regulatory standards in some countries.” The white list is imperative in keeping remote gambling safe for online casino players. Because the many jurisdictions have varying laws regarding internet gambling, the white list successfully “[bans] adverts for websites operating from places that don’t meet [the UK’s] strict standards,” claims Purnell.

But other’s question if the standards are actually too high considering the number of jurisdictions and online casinos that are excluded from the white list. A key part of the regulations in all of jurisdictions that are white listed include regulations that address programs to help problem gamblers, and measures to keep underage gambling at the online casino sites under control.

Purnell uses the Isle of Man as an example of a jurisdiction that did not previously meet the regulatory requirements for the white list, but that “made significant improvements to their regulatory regime in order to secure a place on the white list.” Some of the new online casino regulations in the Isle of Man includes “requiring all licensees to make contributions to problem gambling research, education and treatment in line with requirement on UK operators.”

And just to be sure that the online casino industry understands why the strict standards are in place, Purnell notes, “I make no apology for banning adverts for websites operating from places that don’t meet our strict standards. Protection is my number one priority.”