Is The UK Running Illegal Satellite Tournaments?

Seats at United Kingdom (UK) poker tournaments or satellites cannot be won as prizes to those that are not in the UK Gambling Commission’s list approved areas. The UK may be in offense of the Gambling Act of 2005, Section 331.  According to a statement issued by the Commission, “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.

The Gambling Act of 2005, Section 331 makes it illegal to produce advertising to a UK event that is not white list approved.  Section 331 of the Gambling Act which came into full force in September, 2007, restricts the UK from advertising foreign gambling in any country, territory or jurisdiction that are not within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Gibraltar and Malta or white listed approved areas. The only loophole is if they can prove they have a regime of regulation that is satisfactory in place.  The majority of online gambling sites that are licensed in Gibraltar and Malta and are able to qualify as white listed areas in the EEA.

To date, The Isle of Man and Alderney are the only gaming jurisdictions that are white listed approved areas that have permission to advertise within the UK.  In addition to the Gambling Act 2005 having the authority to allow a country or place to have benefits like an EEA; is for the Act to provide fair and regulated gaming and to prevent the gambling of minors and people with or susceptible to gambling addictions.