Bad news coming for players in the UK market? Poker sites going crazy? It’s a recipe for a lot of miscommunication and player misunderstandings. Although this story has somewhat played out in the US markets, the UK has long enjoyed a healthy gambling relationship, being able to play just about anywhere.
The problem is the upcoming UK Gambling Act. It’s going into effect in November, and it requires all operators that want to get bets from UK residents to be licensed by the government’s regulatory agencies. The operators not only have to pay for licensing, but they also will have to pay a 15 percent tax on all of the revenue made from those bets.
Yet the scare tactics and drama are very unnecessary. While it’s true that Carbon Poker has decided to leave the UK market, Full Tilt and PokerStars are sticking around. That tells us that they are definitely going to serve the UK market for a long time.
There’s no need to panic that this is going to trigger a massive exodus of all UK betting outlets. You will still be able to play slots, bingo, roulette, poker, blackjack, and just about anything and everything else that you wish to play.
Don’t let one site, even a large one, make you think that UK betting is dead and gone. These companies are looking at the higher taxes against whether or not they’re going to make money. Most players don’t like to realize it, but there are a lot of costs that go into running these operations. From security to development, these sites are paying quite a bit of money. So it makes sense that they’re always reevaluating their options when new legislation comes into play.
Being aware of these things will help you look at what new stuff will come down the pipe. Oh, if you didn’t think you’ll see any new casinos, you’re in for a shock. Anytime one company exists, you can bet that someone else will use the media buzz to step into the spotlight.
It’s only a matter of time before we see another company, but for the time being, you can continue to use your UK poker sites like normal unless otherwise noted.