Austria’s Novomatic Group has moved swiftly to snap up the Latin American-facing assets of gaming supplier Octavian International after the latter was forced into administration in early May.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

BELGIUM

During a conference on the ‘Liberalisation of the Gaming Market' in Rome, Italy, the Belgian chief gambling regulator expressed the intention of the upcoming Belgian Presidency to drive the debate on cross-border gambling.  Belgian Gaming Commission President Etienne Marique said that Belgium would use its six-month presidency of the European Union to search for ‘legal certainty' over gambling issues.  Mr. Marique also cited the intention of the upcoming presidency to address areas of confusion for gaming operators and to discuss whether the possibility exists for some common standards across the EU 27.  However, the Belgian Gaming Commission President also expressed that the Belgian presidency will not be seeking further consultations of Member States and industry stakeholders, but rather will focus on developing texts to help regulate the gambling industry.

Source: Euromat

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Ministry of Finance is revisiting efforts to tackle illegal gambling, filing fresh criminal charges against 15 of the country’s leading unlicensed online betting operators.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

ESTONIA

On 12 May, the European Commission confirmed Estonia had met all the accession criteria to join the eurozone in 2011.  Estonia will now be the 17th country to join the single currency bloc while Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden are still preparing to join.  Following the European Commission's recommendation, EU procedures prescribe that European leaders must now accept the recommendation at a summit in June 2010 before EU Finance Ministers give final approval for Estonian entry at a meeting in July 2010.  Should all the procedures continue without incident, Estonia will adopt the euro on 1 January 2011.

Source: Euromat

FRANCE

As the country’s new gambling authority prepares to issue licences for online betting before France’s opening World Cup game on Friday, stringent account verification rules mean French players may have to wait until later in the tournament before becoming eligible to cash out any winnings.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

HUNGARY

Critics of Hungary’s new poker laws believe the rules will drive players towards illegal gambling dens and into the arms of offshore online operators following the introduction of the unpopular measures at the start of this month.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

IRELAND

Taoiseach Brian Cowan’s declaration that online bookmakers will have to hold a license and pay tax in order to operate in the Republic has provoked mixed responses among Ireland’s bookmakers. Source: GamblingCompliance.com

ITALY

Prompted by widespread operator fears Italy’s gaming industry watchdog has moved to clarify the regulations regarding the use of so-called Totems in betting outlets. Source: GamblingCompliance.com

British bookmaker Stanleybet is seeking damages of €1.5bn from the Italian government as compensation for the company’s losses after twelve years of legal battles with the state.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

THE NETHERLANDS

 On 10 May, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirmed that it would rule on two closely related Dutch cases on 3 June 2010.  The cases involve the Dutch sports betting operator De Lotto, who sought injunctions against both Betfair and Ladbrokes to prevent the British firms from providing online betting services in the Netherlands.  De Lotto is currently the only licensed operator in the Netherlands and has argued that its monopolistic position assists in combating gambling addiction and is therefore within the legal realm to continue as the sole operator of online games.  On the other hand, Betfair and Ladbrokes believe De Lotto's position is in violation of European law since there is no competition for tenders to provide online betting services in the Netherlands.

Although the ECJ rarely rules against the opinion of an Advocate General, the decision will have significance for the gambling industry regardless of the ruling. Much like the Santa Casa case in Portugal, the ECJ decision will signal to other Member States the authority they retain to protect the integrity of their gambling industries. 

Source: Euromat

POLAND

Machine operators are lobbying the European Commission to open formal infringement investigations into controversial new legislation that will eradicate all privately-operated gaming machines outside of licensed casinos in Poland within years.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

SPAIN

Legal complaints filed against online competitors have Spain’s land-based industry seeking to force the government’s hand on introducing new gambling regulations, but lawyers fear the actions may also have unintended enforcement consequences.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

SWITZERLAND

Swiss gaming regulators have confirmed that poker tournaments will only be permitted in licensed casinos after the country’s Federal Supreme Court sided with casino operators in finding the game of Texas Hold ‘em to be one of chance and not skill.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

UNITED KINGDOM

 With the World Cup looming the UK’s Gambling Commission has clarified rules surrounding betting in work lotteries, but it does not plan any crack-down on informal “office sweepstakes”.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

The UK Gambling Commission has issued further advice to operators after continued confusion over what is and what is not a gaming machine.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

Gaming legislation is constantly changing

every month Euroslot rounds up the new laws and amendments affecting the industry

AUSTRIA

Austria’s Novomatic Group has moved swiftly to snap up the Latin American-facing assets of gaming supplier Octavian International after the latter was forced into administration in early May.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

BELGIUM

During a conference on the ‘Liberalisation of the Gaming Market' in Rome, Italy, the Belgian chief gambling regulator expressed the intention of the upcoming Belgian Presidency to drive the debate on cross-border gambling.  Belgian Gaming Commission President Etienne Marique said that Belgium would use its six-month presidency of the European Union to search for ‘legal certainty' over gambling issues.  Mr. Marique also cited the intention of the upcoming presidency to address areas of confusion for gaming operators and to discuss whether the possibility exists for some common standards across the EU 27.  However, the Belgian Gaming Commission President also expressed that the Belgian presidency will not be seeking further consultations of Member States and industry stakeholders, but rather will focus on developing texts to help regulate the gambling industry.

Source: Euromat

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Ministry of Finance is revisiting efforts to tackle illegal gambling, filing fresh criminal charges against 15 of the country’s leading unlicensed online betting operators.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

ESTONIA

On 12 May, the European Commission confirmed Estonia had met all the accession criteria to join the eurozone in 2011.  Estonia will now be the 17th country to join the single currency bloc while Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden are still preparing to join.  Following the European Commission's recommendation, EU procedures prescribe that European leaders must now accept the recommendation at a summit in June 2010 before EU Finance Ministers give final approval for Estonian entry at a meeting in July 2010.  Should all the procedures continue without incident, Estonia will adopt the euro on 1 January 2011.

Source: Euromat

FRANCE

As the country’s new gambling authority prepares to issue licences for online betting before France’s opening World Cup game on Friday, stringent account verification rules mean French players may have to wait until later in the tournament before becoming eligible to cash out any winnings.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

HUNGARY

Critics of Hungary’s new poker laws believe the rules will drive players towards illegal gambling dens and into the arms of offshore online operators following the introduction of the unpopular measures at the start of this month.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

IRELAND

Taoiseach Brian Cowan’s declaration that online bookmakers will have to hold a license and pay tax in order to operate in the Republic has provoked mixed responses among Ireland’s bookmakers. Source: GamblingCompliance.com

ITALY

Prompted by widespread operator fears Italy’s gaming industry watchdog has moved to clarify the regulations regarding the use of so-called Totems in betting outlets. Source: GamblingCompliance.com

British bookmaker Stanleybet is seeking damages of €1.5bn from the Italian government as compensation for the company’s losses after twelve years of legal battles with the state.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

THE NETHERLANDS

 On 10 May, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirmed that it would rule on two closely related Dutch cases on 3 June 2010.  The cases involve the Dutch sports betting operator De Lotto, who sought injunctions against both Betfair and Ladbrokes to prevent the British firms from providing online betting services in the Netherlands.  De Lotto is currently the only licensed operator in the Netherlands and has argued that its monopolistic position assists in combating gambling addiction and is therefore within the legal realm to continue as the sole operator of online games.  On the other hand, Betfair and Ladbrokes believe De Lotto's position is in violation of European law since there is no competition for tenders to provide online betting services in the Netherlands.

Although the ECJ rarely rules against the opinion of an Advocate General, the decision will have significance for the gambling industry regardless of the ruling. Much like the Santa Casa case in Portugal, the ECJ decision will signal to other Member States the authority they retain to protect the integrity of their gambling industries. 

Source: Euromat

POLAND

Machine operators are lobbying the European Commission to open formal infringement investigations into controversial new legislation that will eradicate all privately-operated gaming machines outside of licensed casinos in Poland within years.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

SPAIN

Legal complaints filed against online competitors have Spain’s land-based industry seeking to force the government’s hand on introducing new gambling regulations, but lawyers fear the actions may also have unintended enforcement consequences.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

SWITZERLAND

Swiss gaming regulators have confirmed that poker tournaments will only be permitted in licensed casinos after the country’s Federal Supreme Court sided with casino operators in finding the game of Texas Hold ‘em to be one of chance and not skill.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

UNITED KINGDOM

 With the World Cup looming the UK’s Gambling Commission has clarified rules surrounding betting in work lotteries, but it does not plan any crack-down on informal “office sweepstakes”.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

The UK Gambling Commission has issued further advice to operators after continued confusion over what is and what is not a gaming machine.

Source: GamblingCompliance.com

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---