Although a relatively new phenomenon, the Internet is already having a substantial, even a dramatic, impact on life in Britain, just as in the rest of the developed world. In particular, e-commerce is growing rapidly and all commercial sectors are actively examining the opportunities and threats it brings. The gambling sector is no exception. From a public policy perspective, the potential of the Internet to offer unregulated, unlicensed and low or no tax gambling has been causing concerns to many, and the Board in particular, for some time.

The Board has a duty to advise the Home Secretary on developments in gaming. It decided therefore that it should launch a study of Internet gambling with a view to producing this report setting out its findings and recommendations. It circulated a consultation paper (copy at Annex A) amongst the trade associations, problem gambling interests and others with which it deals. The responses received, and others, are summarized in Annex B. In the light of those replies, the Board subsequently sent all respondents a letter (Annex C) inviting comments on four specific matters on which it felt it should give them a further opportunity to offer views. The replies received, and supporting comments are summarized in Annex D. At the same time, the Board has held discussions with others whom it felt could provide useful input and, in particular, has met with representatives of British companies who have been actively seeking opportunities to offer Internet gaming.

Many jurisdictions have been struggling with the implications of Internet gambling and how they should react to it. There are no simple or obvious solutions to the >>