The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is to host an international summit in October in London, UK, primarily for the high-end government levels of jurisdiction that govern gambling.

A DCMS spokesperson confirmed that “key political figures” will attend from countries including the US, Canada and a number of EU member states.

The online gaming industry has reportedly been keen to meet with the government at this high-level summit to fine-tune the regulation of its sector and encourage operators to move their businesses onshore in Britain.

However, the DCMS spokesperson said that it was too early to say whether any members of the gambling industry would be involved in the summit, as details were still being finalised.

Under current UK gambling laws, online gaming groups such as PartyGaming can’t operate onshore, although this restriction will change when the Gambling Act fully comes into force in 2007.

Some industry leaders predict there could be little change to online gambling groups operating offshore, even after next year’s change in the law, due to indecision surrounding the amount of corporate tax offshore companies would be liable to pay if they were to operate on the mainland.

The October summit is part of the UK government’s intention to take a global lead on issues involving gambling that pose serious questions to governments around the world.Details: www.culture.gov.uk

Photograph: www.istock.com