British Gambling Commission Takes No Action Against TV Shows

The highly popular TV game shows “Deal or No Deal” and “Red or Black” we under the UK Gambling Commission’s probe into whether the programs carried out gambling activities unlicensed by the British gambling laws.

Back in the beginning of 2012 the producers of the TV shows we issued a warning by the Gambling Commission focusing on a possible fact that the games didn’t involve elements of skill and thus could be equaled to gambling at online casinos in United Kingdom, which requires a license.

The issued warning caused an unpopular stir in the British game show industry and, as United Kingdom gambling news report, might have been the main reason why the 80’s hit show by Bruce Forsythe “Play Your Cards Right” wasn’t brought back to air.

Last week, major British newspapers learned that the Gambling Commission decided to take no further action following extensive consultations with the broadcasters of the TV shows. For the time being at least.

A source close to producers of the shows told media: “A television program isn’t where the Gambling Commission should be and it seems it now realizes that.”

The British Gambling Commission spokesman commented: “We have been and are still consulting with relevant stake holders and we have decided that an advice note on this topic at this stage would not be the most appropriate way to help broadcasters and producers of television game shows to comply with the Gambling Act.”

The spokesman also went on to add that the Commission didn’t devise any plans to require that broadcasters get a gambling license. He hinted that the consultations with the broadcasters will go on.