On February 29 the British Court of Appeals won a reversal of the High Court's decision that permitted offshore bookmakers to advertise betting services via teletext. Promotion or advertising of overseas bookmakers in the U.K. is prohibited under Section 9 of the 1981 Betting and Gaming Duties Act.
Last year, when Teletext and Skytext withdrew advertisements placed by Victor Chandler, the company took Customs to court to determine if the prohibition on advertising included electronic media advertising. The case was heard in the High Court in July 1999, when the court ruled in favor of Victor Chandler.
According to Victor Chandler, the bookmaker is unlikely to suffer much loss of business from the decision. "This judgement does not affect our online activity," spokesman David Grouse said. "VCI already has a solid base of nearly 20,000 U.K. customers selling on the benefits of the Chandler service to their friends -the best promotional tool any business can have, " he explained. "Plus, our new online betting site went live on 15th January of this year."
Click here to read the High Court's decision.