Online Gambling Advertising Ban Sticks In UK

Former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and culture secretary Tessa Jowell, had been working to allow the advertisement of online casinos, online poker and betting shops in main-stream media, including television and radio. Since his post was claimed by the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, along with the new culture secretary James Purnell, it appears gambling advertising policy may not only be greatly delayed, but possibly overturned altogether.

Purnell announced the change in policy, which further attests to the conservative nature of the new government, lead by Prime Minister Brown, in respect to gambling services in the UK.

The previous proposal to end the ban on advertisement of online gambling, betting shops and slot machines sparked an outcry from the church-going community, who believe such campaigns would only generate the escalation of problem gambling.

Culture secretary Purnell, entering office only two weeks prior, spoke of the matter in his first interview, "That was one of the concerns people have mentioned and one of the things that, as a new minister in this area, I will be going through methodically to see if the concerns are legitimate."

"It is important to have a thorough review of all the evidence," Purnell asserted, going on to relay his intentions to fully review all aspects of UK's proposed gambling legislation. Any changes would require the additional authority of Prime Minister Brown.