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Many in the online gambling sector have been expressing disgust over a piece that ran in the London Telegraph this past week. Considering Internet gambling in nearly all forms is embraced throughout the UK, The Telegraph's message had many taken aback.
The security services have been warned that the internet is increasingly being used to train terrorists, raise money and as the main form of media to promote radical Islam, the report warns.
Computer experts in al-Qaeda have created an "online University of Jihad" that is recruiting and training potential terrorists in Britain without them having to risk travelling to camps in Pakistan.
Terry Prattar, a specialist in counter-terrorism with Jane's Strategic Advisory Services, said: "Al-Qaeda want to create a University of Jihad on line, both in a spiritual and financial sense.
"They want a community that can carry out attack without having to travel abroad for training.."
He said the Internet had been used to raise funds for terrorists in Afghanistan including the use of on-line gambling sites to launder cash.
"Such a blanket statement is reckless," said one industry analyst who wished not to be identified. "And there is absolutely zero evidence related to terrorists involvement and online gambling."
Suggestions to the contrary have long been expressed, mainly by so-called "religious zealots" living within the United States.
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
