Commercial Break

The online gambling industry is about to enter a new stage in its decade plus history, which was rocky at times, but has quite clearly followed an upward trend. As part of the UK's Gambling Act 2005, online casino sites, poker rooms and the such will be able to advertise on television - for the first time being able to reach potential customers at their homes via the popular media.

The public discussion that has picked up across the board in the weeks prior to the new Act taking effect has only heightened expectations. Public discussion regarding the online casino ads has by the way brought online gambling itself to the discussion table, in effect legitimizing the industry and the hobby too.

The only aspect that is not being discussed at the moment is the advertising campaign and strategies, which the online casino operators are keeping secret. It is a safe bet to assume that they will be rather grand and expensive. Too much is at stake and enough is at hand to be invested.

Indeed, one online casino gambling analyst said of the law, with direct reference to the advertising aspect, that "The new law becomes a catalyst for network cable revenues as casinos will inject millions of dollars into the market right away. Much of the money will come from online providers."

Meanwhile, as the UK industry - cable, television and online casinos - have advanced to the next step, which we call Commercial Break, the players on the other side of the ocean are stuck in a break of their own. It was reported that gambling companies spent $1.3 million lobbying Washington, DC politicians for a revoke of the UIGEA and new Internet regulations. This has been in the first six month of the year only.

While the casinos are reaching a greater market on the mainstream television stations in the UK, Americans find themselves marching on to Washington to lobby for their freedoms to be restored.