U.K. Gambling Reform

The UK’s proposed gambling reforms will boost online and offline gambling to the tune of an extra £1bn by 2010, according to a report by marketing company The Henley Centre.

The report said that remote gambling – i.e., Internet, interactive TV and mobile gambling – will be a big winner, as will the UK government, which will rake in £400 million in tax by 2010. The land based casino industry will also benefit, but the smaller land-based operations, such as bingo, amusement arcades and pubs, will lose out, the study indicates.

The report finds that problem gambling will also increase, with 700,000 problem gamblers by the 2010 date – that’s about 1 in 100 people in the UK!