UK cracks down on web gambling havens

Government officials in the UK said that as many as one thousand gambling websites could be barred from advertising within the UK.

The new regulations would strip advertising rights for gambling sites in areas that do not comply with certain regulatory standards, said the Department for Culture Media and Sport. The new regulations will take effect on 1 September and will only apply to regions outside the European Economic Area.

The announcement comes less than five months after UK authorities decided to allow gambling sites to advertise on television and radio.

Online gambling hot spots subject to the ban include Costa Rica, Belize, and the Netherlands Antilles.

Only sites based in countries that are on a designated 'white list' will be allowed to advertise in the UK. Currently, only Alderney and the Isle of Man qualify for the list. The department is also reviewing applications from Antigua and the Kahnawake reservation in Canada.

"I make no apology for banning adverts for websites operating from places that don’t meet our strict standards," said James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

"Protection is my number one priority."