The summit will focus on the need to protect children from using gambling sites and to stop rogue operators from infiltrating the online gambling industry, while looking to establish “minimum international standards of regulation.”
With the introduction of the 2005 Gambling Act, the UK has become the first industrialised nation to introduce a regulatory framework for the online gambling industry.
“The key reason for the 2005 Gambling Act was to regulate new forms of gambling, providing tougher protections for children and the vulnerable,” said Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
“But we can only go so far alone. This is a global issue that requires a global solution, which is why this summit is important,” she added.
A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport explained that the conference would bring together governments, regulatory agencies and legitimate gambling operators to ensure that consumers are protected and that the market for reputable services can flourish.
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are reported to have welcomed the idea of a summit. Online gambling jurisdictions such as Antigua, Costa Rica and Malta will also be invited.
It remains unclear whether the US, which is the world\’s largest market for online gambling, will send representatives.
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