Brits Love to Gamble

[Hunger Dog]

The rise in online betting has led to Britain becoming a nation of Internet gamblers, according to a study.

One million people in the UK now regularly log on to betting sites, each spending at least £1,000 a year - a £1bn total.

British players now account for nearly one third of the 3.5m online gamblers in Europe. The true scale of the betting fever gripping the country is to be unveiled in a Government study this week.

It follows revelations that Labour wants to make Britain the world centre of Internet gambling. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell was criticised by both Conservative and Labour MPs over the plans.

Delegations from governments around the world will meet tomorrow for a summit looking at the 'global challenges' of online gambling, and ways to regulate the industry.

The study, described as the most comprehensive yet into the scale of the industry, will be released in full at the event. It will reveal how a growing number of regular Internet gamblers are women.

The Government has described the figures as 'conservative', with millions more people using online sites for occasional wagers.

There are now 2,300 Internet gambling sites across the world, with more than a quarter based on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Britain hosts 70, but that figure is likely to soar next year. Online firms which rely on payment by credit card must currently operate from offshore.

But from next September they will be allowed to operate from British bases under British regulation. Recent research found that the online gaming industry had annual revenues of £5.25bn, and predicted that this figure could double by 2008. The growth in the industry has, however, fuelled widespread fears over the problems of gambling addiction.

The number of people seeking help for gambling addiction is said to have risen by 41.3% over 2004 and 2005. In America, the response to the problem has been to outlaw Internet gaming.

Washington has refused to send a delegation to the summit, being held at Royal Ascot. Delegates from more than 30 countries will discuss how to protect young and vulnerable people, ensure games are fair and keep the industry free of crime.

Earlier this year, research revealed the British public gambled more than £50bn last year. The figure, which is more than £800 for every man, woman and child in Britain, represents a sevenfold increase in only five years.

[Harvey]

Maybe the Republicans will somehow find a way to use some obscure section of the Wire Act to shut down gambling in Britain. Then, we can be well on our way to a gambling free planet (except for the Indian Casinos, of course).

[Hunger Dog]

The Indian Casinos will one day rule the world. Then, they will hand out blankets infected with SARS, as seen on an episode of South Park.