AUSTRALIA

South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has submitted legislation in the Australian parliament that would ban ATMs from licensed premises throughout the country. Xenophon's bill marks the first stage in the influential anti-gambling advocate's promised campaign against the Australian poker machine industry. Source: Gambling Compliance

BELARUS

GTECH Global Services Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lottomatica S.p.A, has signed an agreement with Belarus' Sport Pari to create the first online lottery system in Belarus. The five-year agreement will run until July 2013, and follows a competitive bidding process. Source: Gaming Intelligence Group

BELGIUM

According to an official from the Council of the EU, the Working Group on Establishments and Services which is currently discussing gambling policy will meet again on 16-17 September 2008. Whether gambling and more specifically the French Presidency questionnaire on gambling legislation will be debated depends on the number of replies provided by Member States by 12 September and the content and comparability of the answers. A report or summary based on the results of the questionnaire is expected to be released in October 2008. If indeed the issue is dealt with at the Working Group meeting, the outcomes could range from a simple follow-up discussion by the Working Group to a political conclusion of the Council, with a request to the European Commission to take further action. Source: Euromat

CAPE VERDE ISLANDS

Comments made last week by a government official indicate the Cape Verde islands are planning to put in place a legal framework for a casino industry by the end of the year. The islands, closely linked with Portugal, also hope to encourage investment from Macau. Source: Gambling Compliance

CZECH REPUBLIC

In the Czech Republic, Minister for Ethnic Minorities and Human Right, Dzamila Stehikova, has called for all gambling to come under national laws and regulations, rather than differing between municipalities. The Minister is currently involved in drafting new laws to introduce strategies protecting underaged and vulnerable members of the public and restricting criminal activity in this sector, expected to be submitted to the governement by the end of 2008. Latest statistics show that traditional gambling and the use of gambling machines grew by 12% and 50% in the past year. Source: Euromat

DENMARK

In Denmark, the gambling monopoly Danske Spil is facing a challenge from TV2. The state owned broadcaster is using a loophole in the gambling law to offer games of skill, such as backgammon, with the possibility for players to win money. The authorities say that since games of chance are defined by whether payoffs are "primarily determined by chance," the offer by TV2 is not covered by the law. Source: Euromat

FINLAND

In line with its strategy to expand into international markets, Finland's Paf has signed a three sponsorship deal with Spanish La Liga and Champions League side Atlético de Madrid. In addition to its logo appearing on the teams playing shorts, training kit and training ground, the agreement will also see Paf launch an official club gaming site in the first quarter of 2009. Source: Gaming Intelligence Group

FRANCE

The head of Casinos de France, the country's leading casino trade association, has predicted the closure of up to five percent of his members' businesses unless the French government moved to lessen the industry's tax burden. Source: Gambling Compliance

GERMANY

 In Germany, the Federal Supreme Court reinforced a decision by the Federal Competition Authority according to which the German Loto- Totoblock lotteries (DLTB) can no longer act collectively to oppose sales made by commercial gaming agents representing private operators. The decision is unlikely to halt the further implementation of the Interstate Treaty scheduled for January 2009. Germany's federal authorities could continue block the activities on a state by state basis, the Court ruled that the collusive methods used by the DLTB to block private sales nationwide were to be halted. Source: Euromat

INDIA

An opposition bill that would prohibit up-river casino cruises in Goa, India was rejected in the state's parliament last month despite admissions from Goa's Home Minister that existing legislation was lacking and hints that the Government planned to study the possibility of introducing further regulations itself. Source: Gambling Compliance

IRELAND

The Irish Greyhound Board has awarded its new Tote contract to UK company Datatote. The contract will form a central plank in the governing body's plan to free itself from EU scrutiny of its funding arrangements. Source: Gambling Compliance

ITALY

Online poker, now officially sanctioned by the Italian gaming authority AAMS, has gone live in Italy and last month the first real money games took place on an Italian licensed website. Source: Gambling ComplianceEuromat

NETHERLANDS

Members of the Dutch Parliament have expressed concern over the apparent lack of an effective policy to protect problem gamblers following damaging allegations made in court in a case involving the state's monopoly operator, Holland Casino. Source: Gaming Intelligence Group

POLAND

In Poland, the current pro-European Union government is having difficulties in regulating online gambling, as it wishes to adhere properly to the EC Treaty and to avoid causing problems with the European Commission. So, although the government is in favour of online gambling, the need to follow EU law is a far more important strategy. Thus, it may be that online gambling remains low on the list of priorities included in the gambling reform agenda of the Finance Ministry. Whatever the case, it is an improvement on the anti-gambling stance of the previous government. Source: Euromat

SPAIN

 In Spain, according to a report from the Interior Ministry, consumers spent an average of €416 a year in bingo halls, casinos and gaming arcades. The autonomous regions of the Balearic islands, Madrid, Aragon and the Canary islands exceeded this average with an average of €513-€541 spent per capita. Spaniards spent most on slot machines (€279) followed by bingos (€81) and casinos (€56)

SWEDEN

 Jan Nyrén, the man charged with conducting Sweden's gambling investigation, has said this week that his final report due in December will propose that Sweden introduce a licensing system for online sports betting providers. Source: Gaming Intelligence Group

TAIWAN

  A government casino advisor believes it could be ten years before casino gaming is permitted on the Taiwanese mainland after President Ma earlier this week reiterated his support for exclusively developing resort casinos on Taiwan's outlying islands in order to boost tourism. Source: Gambling Compliance

TURKEY

  The beginning of the process to privatise Turkey's lottery is now imminent. It was announced by sources within the Turkish government on 8 September that final preparations for the privatization of the country's national lottery, Milli Piyango, are almost complete and that the bid process will be launched shortly. Source: Gambling Compliance

UNITED KINGDOM

On 25 June 2008, Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, announced that principally to provide economic assistance to seaside arcades, the Department would bring forward a Review of stakes and prizes for low stake category C and D gaming machines

This consultation document sets out the Government's proposals in respect of what new stake and prize limits should apply until 2012, which is the date of the next planned review, and invites views on them.

Consideration was given to five options set out in the consultation document in relation to category C machines:

Option (i) - 50p/£35 (no change) _Option (ii) - 50p/£50 _Option (iii) - 60p/£60_Option (iv) - £1/£70_Option (v) - £1/£100

The consultation period will run from 5 September 2008 until 31 October. An impact assessment will be published shortly.

UNITED STATES

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has rejected a push by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe to enter into early compact talks over plans for a proposed, $1bn casino. The rebuff by the governor, ahead of the crucial presidential election this year, could slow the tribe's drive to win federal approval to create a sovereign reservation for a gambling resort. Source: Gambling Compliance

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---