The online website Totesport Casino has made a bold move by changing their operations to Alderney. This will allow the company to advertise freely in the United Kingdom but avoid the tax and regulation that the United Kingdom requires. The ministers of the United Kingdom set the Gambling Act 2005 and they consider themselves world-leading in the area of gambling. It was stated that anyone who offers gambling in Britain would have to have a license by the UK government by September 2007.
When September came, the top poker and casino operators did not get a United Kingdom license. Operators did not want to pay the 15% remote gaming duty tax on online poker and casinos. It is believed that many will try and use offshore operations so they will have to pay little or no tax.
Totesport Casino is a branch of the Tote company which is a government owned bookmaker. A Tote spokesman said that the decision to move offshore to Alderney was taken in order to allow Totesport Casino to advertise freely in the United Kingdom. They wanted to especially focus on sponsoring horseracing events. They were previously licensed by Curacao and did not qualify for United Kingdom advertising freedom. Tote was asked why they did not try to get a license from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and they said because Alderney offers lower costs especially when it comes to tax.


- 2007-12-27