In what seems to be the latest turn off for poker players in the UK, the UK Gambling Commission warned the Online Poker Rooms about offering seats in poker tournaments as prizes. The UK Gambling Commission has raised its voice and told poker operators in the UK that offering seats in poker tournaments taking place outside the ‘white-listed’ jurisdiction” (UK, European Economic Area, Common Wealth and Gibraltar) can be considering a felony because they are promoting “foreign gambling”. In the Commission's view, the offering of such a prize amounts to advertising of non-UK gambling, as defined by section 327 of the Gambling Act 2005. Unless the overseas tournament is based in the European Economic Area, Gibraltar, or in white-listed jurisdictions, the advert is likely to amount to the advertising of "foreign gambling", which constitutes an offense under section 331 of the Gambling Act 2005
A statement on the Commissions website says: “It has come to the Commission's attention that a number of operators are offering places at overseas poker tournaments as prizes in UK based competitions. For example, a poker tournament played either at a UK Casino or online may offer the winner the chance to play in a cash prize tournament held outside the UK. Operators should take steps to ensure that any advertising which they are responsible for complies with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.”
Dozens of online poker and gaming companies such as 888.com, MansionPoker.com, Party Poker, Ladbrokers and other casinos and online rooms based within the Commission’s jurisdiction, will have to start thinking new ways to advertise and attract players since they have featured prizes that include seats for the World Series of Poker main event and Aussie Millions, otherwise they can face a monetary fine or 51 weeks in jail, or even both.
