Poker Genie comments on Gambling Commission move against foreign tourneys

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 18, 2007 – The UK Gambling Commission last week told UK gambling licensees that they would not be allowed to offer prizes located outside the Commission-approved areas, as this would be seen as a violation of the 2005 Gambling Act.

This includes prizes such as seats at foreign poker events, and sees offering such prizes as advertising of non-UK approved events.

A UK Gambling Commission Spokes person said:

"Unless the overseas tournament is based in the European Economic Area, Gibraltar, or in white-listed jurisdictions, the advert is likely to amount to the advertising of "foreign gambling", which constitutes an offence under section 331 of the Gambling Act 2005"

So far only the Isle of Man and Alderney  have been approved by the Commission to advertise in the UK, and deemed to conform to the Gambling Act of 2005, however the European Economic Area (EEA) includes liscanced gambling sites in Gibraltar and Malta, which automatically qualify to advertise in Britain under European law.

Notes to editors

Poker Genie allows users to compare online poker websites, and is part of Genie Group.

Genie Group Ltd is a leading independent provider of internet comparison shopping services in the UK, and was set up in 2004 by Philip Wilkinson (co-founder of Kelkoo UK). Genie Group's unique selling point is 'the Genie', which makes personal recommendations to internet shoppers based on ground-breaking, intelligent technology. This gives Genie Group the ability to provide an enjoyable and satisfying internet shopping experience, and deliver an unmatched quality of sales leads to our affiliate merchants. Genie Group launched its flagship broadband comparison service Broadband Genie in January 2005.

More information can be found at http://www.pokergenie.co.uk . Please direct all media enquiries to Ciaron Dunne. Interviews with Philip Wilkinson can be arranged on request.