The government in the UK has frozen the online gambling white list while they once again review the Gambling Act for the second time.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has decided to suspend any new additions to the list for the foreseeable future after it came to light that bookmakers have been avoiding making tax contributions by basing their businesses off-shore.

Popular bookie, William Hill is the latest to be thought to be considering a move to Gibraltar to avoid paying the 15% gaming tax imposed. During the freeze out period this hefty tax maybe reviewed to encourage companies to stay in the UK which will help to hold onto peoples jobs within the industry.

The list was a requirement for any online gambling company to trade in the UK since 2007 and many companies have improved themselves so they can make it onto the white list.

As reported by Reuters: “Online gaming firm 888 said on Monday it is close to making an acquisition after strong trading from its casino, bingo and sports betting web sites led to an improved overall performance in the second quarter.”

“Chief Executive Gigi Levy told Reuters that 888 is in talks with a number of targets and expects a deal to be completed soon.

“‘One of them is very close to closing. It’s a bolt-on but would help us in our business-to-business strategy. A few others are at an earlier stage,” Levy said in a telephone interview.

“Levy said he is confident the company could raise at least one times EBITDA to fund acquisitions. The consensus forecast for full-year EBITDA currently stands at $52.5 million, according to a Reuters Estimates poll of six analysts.

888 also holds cash of $110 million and has no debt.

With the new series of X-Factor starting next month online bookies are releasing all their odds on pretty much all the events that could happen!

The most popular odds are of course regarding the winner. Paddy Power are giving odds on the winner being in one of the younger categories offering 7/4 that the winner is from the boys group and 15/8 that a girl is crowned the winner. No group has ever won X-Factor but they are being backed at 3/1 with the over 25’s least favourite at 4/1.

If you can’t decide on a winner then why not pick a judge? Cheryl Cole won last year and it is not surprising that she is favourite to win again this year being backed at 15/8. Following her lead is Simon Cowell at 2/1, with Dannii Minogue closely behind at 3/1 and Louis Walsh carrying slightly longer odds of 10/3. However, Louis is favourite for something, he is being backed at 6/4 to be the first judge to have all his acts eliminated first!

Other odds that Paddy Power are offering are 8/1 that Cheryl will slap Simon this series and odds of 1/5 that the winner of X-Factor will yet again have a Christmas number one. Paddy Power are giving slightly longer odds of 10/1 that Simon will cry on a live performance this series.