Casinos are allowed to have bars that serve alcohol in a designated restaurant area, but no one is allowed to bring even a drop of alcohol to the gaming table. The 48-hour rule and the no alcohol policy are a governmental restriction designed to protect players from gambling on a whim and from betting with impaired or compromised judgment. Some British casinos are tastefully adorned with invaluable antiques, artwork and craftsmanship you would expect to find in Buckingham Palace rather than in a casino. But in Great Britain, casinos carry an air of dignity without the stigmas that are attached to the American casinos. Their acceptance of casino gambling has carried into the 21st century with the complete legal acceptance of online casino gambling.
Players have the freedom to gamble at any online casino, and in any jurisdiction they choose.
The British government also supports sports gambling and offers national licenses to British bookmakers. Licensed British bookmakers and also have the right to operate online sports books from British soil provided that they are regulated by the British Gaming Board, and pay tax. Sports betting has thus become extremely popular and illegal bookies almost non-existant. Soccer and horseracing, are two of the most popular events to bet on, and wagers can be placed online or in any of the betting shops that can be found in nearly every neighborhood. Recently, there has been speculation that the British Gaming Board is considering licensing online casino operators.