If you are based in the United Kingdom, then when you have logged into our website in the past, you'll have been able to access all of the offers within these pages.
However that has all changed. But what exactly has changed? Isn't the internet is without boundaries? Sadly it is not.
But let's first dispel some incorrect rumours. There's lots of scare stories going around at the moment about how your internet connection can be manipulated by an ISP who can allow you to view any sites they wish, and also block certain sites from being able to be viewed as directed by the UK government.
This may well be the case in terms of some sites but it is most definitely not the case in terms of legitimate gambling websites. By legitimate we mean licensed gambling sites.
So what can be causing the irritatingly regular sight for UK gamblers of logging into a site they have previously been able to play at, only to be met with a message saying that the company is no longer accepting players from the UK?
What could the UK have done to have caused this issue?
The true answer doesn't have anything to do with the average casino player, your ISP or even how you choose to access the internet, nor the offers available.
It is simply down to an Act of Parliament.
The 2014 Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act
So if you are looking for the real reason why UK players are finding many offshore based companies are no longer accepting custom or new members from UK players, then the 2014 Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act is guilty as charged.
Why is that the case?
Well, prior to the act becoming law, the situation regarding gambling in the UK was a confused field. Companies that were based in the UK were subject to stringent tax laws meaning that their profits were taxed at around 15 percent.
However, companies that were based offshore, were not subject to the same tax laws. This meant that these companies were earning considerable sums of money from UK players, but not contributing anything or very little in UK tax.
As a result of this, the current government decided that the laws involving remote gambling needed to be tightened up. As a result, they have altered how tax on gambling is calculated from basing it on a place of supply basis (thus only UK-based companies paid the tax), to a point of consumption basis.
Although this may seem like a small, technical change, it has a massive effect on the profitability of many offshore online casinos when it comes to the UK market. Now instead of contributing zero towards the UK in taxation payments, any company wishing to operate within the UK needs to apply for a new license and when granted one, will have to pay 15 percent on all profits generated from UK-based players.
This may not sound like much but for some online casinos, it has meant that there is a real likelihood that offering services to UK players will radically decrease their profitability. As such, as with any other business, if you are left with a decision whether to offer a service and risk losing money, or not offer the service and stay profitable, the only option is the second one on the list.
As such, an alarming number of online casinos have decided that the new tax laws for offshore companies offering gambling services to UK customers are too harsh and that they would be better off withdrawing from the UK market entirely.
Sadly, that is what many online casinos have done and it is precisely because of this that many UK casino fans cannot now access the same casinos, games and offers that they were playing on just a few months ago.
A failed challenge in the courts
The new Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act was due to come into force on 1st October 2014, however it was delayed initially until 1st November 2014 and then again until the 1st December 2014, due to a legal challenge against the law by the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association.
The GBGA stated that the new law is "bad for UK consumers, bad for the regulated industry, bad for Gibraltar and is in breach of European law".
However on October 15th, the judicial review of the new law, after legal proceedings were started by the GBGA, ruled that the 2014 Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act is "neither disproportionate, nor discriminatory, nor is it irrational" and threw out the claims made by the GBGA, finding in favour of the British Government.
While no appeal has been forthcoming, this has meant that the new law has been delayed a further month and will now come into effect on 1st December 2014, giving companies more time to receive a license to operate in the UK under the new laws.
The problem for the UK gambler is that there doesn't appear to be a great appetite among online casinos to take up the new licenses, under the new legislation.
The net result of that, is that the UK customer now has considerably fewer gaming options available to them when they play online than ever before.
Gambling Act Compliant Offers
These offers are somewhat difficult to find, especially when it comes to no deposit free spins. However with our contacts we're able to provide our UK visitors some no deposit required casino offers, and other bonus offers.
Please don't hesitate to take advantage of the three no deposit offers above! Good luck!
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