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Ads from offshore betting sites against law

British Customs & Excise is setting up a specialist division which will focus solely on Internet-related activity. One of its key issues will be to clamp down on offshore betting sites advertising, contravening UK law.

According to Jurek Pieliechaty, the betting and gaming manager for the unit, Customs has already taken action against several unnamed offshore sites and will now look to enforce more severe penalties, which for repeat offenders could include imprisonment.

Following the abolition of the betting tax last year, a number of UK bookmakers have complained that offshore sites, including the likes of Sportingbet, Victor Chandler and Stanley Bet, have continued to advertise in the UK.

But some of the offshore bookmakers have denied the claim, saying that it's their registered UK businesses which are advertising and not their offshore businesses.