Politicians in Jersey are hoping that following talks with the UK they will be placed on the ‘White List’ of safe gambling jurisdictions.

Currently gaming operators based in Jersey are not able to market their services to the UK, as the list was closed in 2009, prior to legislation n Jersey being put into practice. The government and gaming businesses in Jersey have reportedly spent millions of pounds preparing the island for an e-gaming industry. It is hoped they will gain a temporary license to allow them to market in the UK.

The UK government is currently reviewing gambling legislation as offshore operators are not regulated by the Gambling Commission and do not pay UK tax, giving them significant advantages over land based operators that pay around 20% in UK gaming duty.

The chairman of the UK Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, John Whittingdale, commneted: "It could be that a temporary solution could be found, that is one of the issues we were talking about.

"But it is likely there will be a new regime in due course and hopefully that is something Jersey could qualify for."

Jersey's assistant economic development minister Constable Len Norman added: "It is only recently our law has been approved, we are now making an application to the Minister in the UK to appear on that white list."