The United Kingdom is perhaps the most liberal European country when it comes to gambling. Commercial gambling has been legal for decades in various forms, and betting on sport events has a long tradition here as well. Some of the companies involved are century-old businesses that have lived and worked through virtually every single important development in the gambling industry.

The regulation of lotteries, for example, dates back to the late 1600s. Gambling in all kinds of forms has been a subject of legal debate since. Over the past 20 years or so the tendency has been towards liberalization. The debate over larger land-based casinos being built around England has recently come to a close, and the first permits have been handed out.

The approach to online gambling and casinos is similarly liberal. Both the old companies as well as plenty of new businesses have been competing for a share of this exciting market. And although it has recently become quieter, there's still a lot going on. So don't miss the latest – have a look at our UK casino section every now and then.

There are many sides to gambling in the UK. Since the Second World War, bingo has become a big phenomenon, initially made popular in the army. Legislation from the 1960s keeps this area regulated, and private, charitable and commercial events featuring the game have since been legal. Because the initial legislation turned out too hard to enforce, casino gambling was partially legalized in the same decade. The 60s were a busy time for gambling altogether, with off-course betting on various sports events becoming widely popular and legal as well.

Today, Internet gaming and gambling is the fastest-growing sector of the industry. Major software suppliers in the UK market are Playtech and Microgaming, both businesses that have made their name catering for the online gambling industry pretty much since its earliest beginnings. Current growth rates are very impressive, and although gambling still only amounts to less than a percent of the UK's GDP, it's become more and more popular.