According to a survey by an online financial service supplier, 93% of British residents with an internet connection have gambled online, generating a gambling trurnover of almost US$3bn a year. Almost half of them have taken up online gambling in the last six months.

Almost 10% of internet gamblers condider online gambling as their main pastime. The survey reveiled that sports betting was the most favoured betting activity, with 40% visiting a sportsbook daily and betting at least once a week. Most punters staked around £10 to £20 per week.

The survey was carried our by Virgin Money.

After the adoption of the Gambling Law earlier this year, which specifically regulates online gaming, authorities are now working on licence conditions and codes of practice wfor online operators. They are expected to be issued early next year.

The IFHA welcomes online betting as long as it respects the rules of fair trading: operators must have the agreement of owners of racing data and images before usem them for wagering purposes and bets should not be taken from countries where this is an illegal activity.