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www.euroslot-online.com LEGISLATION
FRANCE ITALY
The French gaming market, which has long been dominated Final applications for Italy’s 3,000 new betting shop licences
by the powerful duopoly of the PMU and FDJ, is likely to were due on March 16, but the hours before the closing saw
undergo serious transformations in 2009 and 2010. After a number of legal characteristically chaotic scenes as lawyers tussled over the terms of the
challenges to its regulatory structure, the French government has taken steps tender offer. Source: gamblingcompliance.com
to reform its gambling laws and has recently introduced a draft gaming bill
which esablishes a new online gambling regime. The new regime allows PHILIPPINES
private operators of sports betting, pari-mutuel horserace betting and poker Faced with their own economic crisis, politicians in Manila are
to offer their services online, provided they obtain a license from a new considering  further easing foreign ownership restrictions on
regulatory authority. Source: gamblingcompliance.com gaming businesses in a move that could allow non-Filipino companies a
greater role in operating casinos at the new Philippine Amusement and
GERMANY Gaming Corp (Pagcor) resort. Source: gamblingcompliance.com
The European Commission DG Enterprise and Industry TRIS
database has been notified of the Draft Casino Act PORTUGAL
(Spielbankgesetz) for the Land Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, focusing on Portugal’s gaming industry is dominated by Santa Casa da
internet-related services and gambling machines. An implementation law for Misericordia de Lisboa, the charitable organization granted a
the State Treaty on Gambling in Germany, the stated main aim of the Act is monopoly for the sale of lottery and sports betting products, and licensed
to prevent and combat gambling addiction and to protect consumers from private casino operators. Currently, Santa Casa’s monopoly is being
criminal exploitation. Source: Euromat challenged in the ECJ, whose judgment is keenly anticipated, as the questions
referred to the ECJ are pertinent in many European jurisdictions. Recently, the
GREECE Advocate General of the case provided its lead opinion over the case stating
The case at the Greek Council of State against OPAP is to be that while the applicable Portuguese legislation may comply with EU law, it
referred to the European Court of Justice, as the opinion of was not enforceable as it had never been notified to the European
the Reporting Judges states that the protectionist approach of the gambling Commission. Source: gamblingcompliance.com
monopoly is disproportionate with EU law. Meanwhile, the court judged that
the Greek government should not be allowed to continue its policy of SPAIN
restricting the market against foreign operators. Source: Euromat Spanish gaming operators are hoping that the enactment of a
long-anticipated set of machine regulations in the Madrid
GREECE region will revive AWP revenues that have begun to sink at a rapid pace since
Ahead of 2008 results due today from the closely-watched the onset of recession in the country. The draft Madrid legislation was
betting and gaming monopoly OPAP, two of the Greece’s submitted to the European Commission earlier this month. Source:
largest casinos have announced that they are feeling the pinch as a result of gamblingcompliance.com
the economic downturn and competition from over the border. Source:
gamblingcompliance.com SPAIN
Frustrated with an evident lack of progress by the Spanish
IRELAND government and national lottery operator LAE in introducing
Ireland’s private members club operators have expressed nationally-binding remote gambling regulations, several Spanish regions are
“cautious optimism” at the news that the justice minister is now considering introducing legislation at a regional level in order to
going to register and regulate them as he seeks to placate international guarantee local consumer protection and tax revenue. The national political
financial watchdogs and bring the Republic into line with regard to impasse threatens Spain’s very viability as an online gambling jurisdiction,
international anti-money laundering practices. Source: experts said yesterday. Source: gamblingcompliance.com
gamblingcompliance.com
UNITED KINGDOM
ITALY The UK’s second biggest bookmaker William Hill said it will
The European Commission has sent an official request (as a create a new banking facility, cancel its dividend, and seek
“Reasoned Opinion”) to Italy, requiring it to comply with the £350m in a discounted rights issue, as it addressed a “dramatic
European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgement on horse-racing licenses. By deterioration” in the credit markets that have battered its share price. Source:
postponing the deadline for the implementation of new improved laws, the gamblingcompliance.com
Italian government is risking major sanctions from the ECJ. Source: Euromat
UNITED STATES
ITALY The European Commission hopes to negotiate a solution with
Gambling spend in Italy rose 9.5 percent in the first two the Obama administration on the apparent attempts by the US
months of the year to currency18.63bn ($11.21bn), the state regulator to target EU-based online gambling firms for prosecution under the UIGEA. If
AAMS said this week, but results were noticeably less impressive for lottery these negotiations are unsuccessful, the European Commission will refer its
products. Source: gamblingcompliance.com investigatory findings to the World Trade Organisation. Source: Euromat
APRIL 2009
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