BELGIUM

The European Commission is being encouraged to intensify its actions against Member States (MS) gaming monopolies. Although most MS justify their monopolies as necessary to deal with problem gambling and criminal activities, a report issued this week by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) argues that the standards applied by its members (mostly online betting companies) are as effective as the national monopolies. (Source: Euromat)

ESTONIA

Estonia has overhauled its gambling regime, with a new Gambling Act passed in October slated to come into force next year, although some provisions, most notably on remote gambling, will come into effect at a later time. A new Advertising Act was passed by the Estonian parliament in March and came into force this month. The new advertising rules expand considerably on previous regulations, and include a new exemption from the prohibition of gambling advertising at sports events. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

FRANCE

The French Presidency of the Council has distributed an orientation paper entitled "Legal framework and Policies for gambling and betting in the Member States (MS) of the European Union" which will form the basis of a Presidency Progress Report to be presented to the EU27 MS on 1-2 December 2008. The report is expected to identify two sets of issues: one on which further co-operation and exchange of information among the MS is necessary; and another on which a common approach at EU level is recommended. (Source: Euromat)

FRANCE

The French government convened another conference on the subject of gambling regulation last week at the University of Paris. The event revealed much about the current policy thinking at ministerial level, including an assurance that online poker would figure at an early stage, but also a guarantee that online casino games would certainly not. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

GERMANY

German-based online lottery and sports betting provider JAXX has acknowledged that recent legal developments could force it to suspend its lottery business in its home market. German lottery sales are already on the decline, JAXX said, adding that the company expects its growing Spanish-facing business to compensate for further losses. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

GEORGIA

With Tbilisi's two established casinos now labouring under a heavy tax burden, Georgia's government is hoping that a regional development initiative to encourage casinos in outlying parts of the country will draw investment. However, infrastructure problems and wavering investor sentiment means it is anybody's guess if and when casinos will ever operate there. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

GREECE

The European Commission has turned its attention on the Greek gaming operator OPAP, the largest operator in Europe. In order to avoid EU infringement investigations, the Greek state monopoly has initiated a number of reform proposals, to reduce advertising, to protect vulnerable groups and to reduce its network of agents. But the Commission doubts whether these changes would really have the desired effects of free provision of services and competitiveness in the Greek market. (Source: Euromat)

IRELAND

The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) is prepared to take its case against dual taxation to the Commercial Court in Dublin, GamblingCompliance can reveal. The IBA met with finance minister Brian Lenihan last week and presented him with figures that it claims show that if the increase in betting duty announced in the recent budget is implemented in its current form, it "will most certainly spell the end of most independent bookmakers". (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

ITALY

A delegation from the Italian gaming authority (AAMS) was in Brussels this week to meet with members of the European Commission, to discuss the proposed amendments to current gaming laws. In particular, the meetings dealt with the retendering of the 329 licences and the expected extension of the betting sector. The European Commission's view of the new laws will be released next week, with legislation remaining unchanged if approval is not reached by 28 November. (Source: Euromat)

ITALY

Lottomatica's results for the nine months to September showed the company consolidating its leading position in the newly liberalised Italian market, and came a day after the firm confirmed its financial health with the securing of a €350m five-year loan that will go towards paying off a €360m bond due at the end of the year. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

ITALY

Italy's government has finally approved a number of important changes to the country's gaming laws while voting down many more of the impractical suggestions from MPs. Significant changes to reorder the betting shop licensing landscape have been approved, and horseracing will receive a financial boost, but changes to the online sector have largely been passed over. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

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)

PORTUGAL

Advocate General Yves Bot of the European Court of Justice released his opinion on the Portuguese lottery case referred to the ECJ in 2007 by the Pequena Instância Criminal do Porto. He concluded that the legislation allowing Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa to have sole monopoly on lotteries and off-course betting, extending to online and mobile activities, could conform to EU laws if certain conditions are met. (Source: Euromat)

SPAIN

Former investors in Spanish gaming firm Codere have triggered a sale of the 71 percent majority shareholding in the group owned by the Martinez Sampedro family, the company's chief financial officer announced yesterday as third-quarter results showed a decline in earnings from Codere's domestic business on the back of the wider consumer slowdown in Spain. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

SWEDEN

Sweden faces further EU legal problems, as an advertising case involving a tabloid newspaper is to be referred to the European Court of Justice. The newspaper was found guilty of violating Swedish gambling laws in 2004, by advertising foreign internet gambling websites, but was given the right to appeal, as the Swedish advertising provisions may not be compliant with EU laws. (Source: Euromat)

UNITED KINGDOM

The UK Gambling Commission's limited mandate means it is unable to clarify the boundaries of legality for homeowners attempting to sell their properties through raffle-style competitions. In light of this, decisive action is needed by the Secretary of State to either nip this trend in the bud or allow it to flourish. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

UNITED STATES

Regulations to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are to come into effect one day before president elect Barack Obama takes office, it was announced on Wednesday. Resisting calls for clearer definitions on key terms or a blacklist of unlawful gambling websites, the US Treasury admits that compliance with the act will cost US financial institutions more than $100m and one million man-hours over the course of 2009. (Source GamblingCompliance.com)

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