News

Saturday, January 27, 2007
UK says TV quiz is also gambling

Interactive TV shows at which viewers can win prizes by calling toll-numbers should be classified as gambling according to recommendations by the UK parliament.

In a report released this week, the relevant Parliament Committee said that 20% of the proceeds of such shows would have to go to good causes, just like lotteries. The report also recommends that the odds of winning a game should be shown clearly onscreen, as well as the costs of the call.

The phenomenon of call-in TV quizzes has mushroomed in many countries, as TV producers were looking for alternative income from declining advertising revenues. Authorised gaming operators are complaining about this form of unregulated and therefore unfair competition.