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23.01.2007 A private survey of UK consumers reveals that there is broad public support and little opposition to UK government plans to license and regulate online gambling. The results show consumers find licensing and regulation inspires consumer confidence and trust.
Controversial government plans to license and regulate online gambling have strong public support according to the new survey, conducted by poker website PKR.com and YouGov.
The findings, part of the Poker UK 2007 report issued by PKR.com, showed that 63 percent of the 4 630 respondents agreed with Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell's strategy to oversee the online gambling industry from within the UK.
Even amongst non-gamblers, support for the licensing and regulation of online gambling was high, with over 50 percent agreeing with government plans. Only 14 percent of non-gambling respondents disagreed.
The survey also highlighted that licensing and regulation plays a major role in consumer decisions about which online gaming sites they play. Nearly two thirds of those polled (63 percent) believe that it is important for an internet gambling site to have a licence, with only 5 percent seeing licensing as "not important at all".
What's more, the PKR.com/YouGov poll revealed a strong preference among respondents for those licences to be issued under British Government regulations. 70 percent said they would trust a poker room or casino that is licensed and regulated in the UK.
PKR.com's Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Graham said, "We've always known that trust is a major factor when it comes to consumer decisions about where to gamble online - which is why we would welcome the introduction of a UK based licensing regime in order to extend an even greater level of protection to consumers and help them avoid unscrupulous operators."
Graham goes on to add, "I am sure that if the Gambling Commission adopts a regulatory framework similar to the one that exists in Alderney, they will attract many license applications."
The Poker UK 2007 report also identifies how poker is increasingly being seen as an entertainment activity, rather than being viewed as gambling, and also provides a snapshot showing how new next-generation poker products are re-invigorating the market.
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