How gambling laws affect UK gambling sites and players?

The UK is considered to be a lucrative market for online gambling. Since the 1990s, the market has enjoyed significant growth thus benefiting the companies in the industry. Microgaming was the first company to introduce online gaming in the UK triggering the entrance of several other organizations including the introduction of the National Lottery. The influx of gambling activities prompted the establishment of regulations that would see the government, through a relevant body, control and monitor UK gambling sites.  Among the first government regulators that formed as a result of this growth include the administration of Barbuda and Antigua, Alderney, and Gibraltar. A significant number of these regulations came long after the inception of online gambling, and they have undergone modifications and amendments as new technicalities and advancements emerge in the online gambling market. The UK gambling sites, for instance, have seen massive changes over the past couple of years resulting from the rapid growth of the gambling industry.

Changes in Gambling Laws and their effect on UK gambling sites

All the gambling sites, both within the UK and offshore that accept UK players are considered to be UK gambling sites. Therefore, following the recent adjustments to the gambling laws, all these sites need to obtain an operating license from the UK gambling commission, which is a British body established in 2005. Most of the regulations affecting gambling sites in the UK took effect only recently. For instance, the requirement of all the offshore casino sites that market to UK players to have a UKGC license was put in place in 2014. This regulation affects all the countries in the European Union as well as those outside the EU as long as they are offering gambling services to UK players.

The UKGC also introduced the tax law that required all companies that operate any form of gambling to and serving the UK market. As far as this regulation is concerned, these companies should honor a 15% tax obligation as long as their operations involve UK players. This law became effective towards the tail end of 2015 as both offshore and UK-based gambling companies started paying a 15% tax on the total earnings.

Effects of the Laws on Gambling Sites and Players

The requirement of gambling sites operating in the UK to obtain a license from the UKGC limited the number of online casinos in the UK. This is because of the somewhat strict requirements that these companies needed to comply with to obtain the license. Also, the tax obligation went a long way in discouraging online gambling sites from marketing to the UK. Some of the companies even went as far as withdrawing from the UK market. The offshore companies that remained in the UK market endured the pain of meeting the requirements.

Players were the main beneficiaries of these gambling regulations. This is because the regulations created an environment for safer gambling. For instance, one of the requirements for obtaining a UKGC license is agreeing to be tested for fairness on a regular basis. This means that only those sites that have been verified to be fair are allowed to operate in the UK market. The UKGC is also accessible to all the members of the public in case they have complaints about any of the licensed casino sites.