This comes as a controversial move for Totesport Casino, the internet arm of Tote, as it means they will be able to advertise without restraint in the UK, while steering clear of UK tax laws and general gaming rules.
This move is sure to make certain ministers feel uncomfortable, those same ministers infact, who have tirelessly presented UK gambling regulation as stand-alone and a beacon to the rest of the world.
“The rest of the world”, apparently were not positively influenced by the regulations set out in the Gambling Act 2005 as they chose to boycott the UK instead, to escape the excessively high 15% tax on “remote gaming”.
One gaming company described this tax- one of Gordon Brown’s final moves as Chancellor, as “a joke” and he insisted that gaming operators would target the UK market from offshore instead of pay the ransom.
The UK have tried to regulate rather than restrict gaming laws, unlike other countries including US and soon Germany, who have gone for the option of blanketing out foreign operators who do not pay tax.
The Tote spokesman, when asked the reasons for this move to Alderney from Curacoa admitted cheaper operating costs including tax and the ability to advertise in the UK. This is prohibited from Curacao.
The spokesman said the decision to relocate to Alderney had been taken in full consultation with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
A spokesman for the DCMS said: “This is a business decision for the Tote. The Tote is run as a business.”