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www.euroslot-online.com LEGISLATION
FRANCE NORWAY
France’s Budget Minister Eric Woerth conceded yesterday that New legislation requiring payment providers to block
the European Commission has asked for the clarification and payments to online gaming operators will reinforce the state
modification of several points in France’s new draft online gambling law. monopoly over gambling in Norway.  The state’s restrictive licensing regime
While the exact terms of the request remain unknown, and may not be has been the subject of numerous EFTA court challenges as EU-based
revealed, Europe’s online industry has broadly welcomed the development. gaming operators contend it contravenes Norway’s obligation under the EEA
Source: Gambling Compliance Agreement. Source: Gambling Compliance
GERMANY SPAIN
Six months after the implementation of the State Treaty on The slot machine market in Spain continues to suffer as the
Gaming in Germany, nothing highlights the continuing country has fallen further into the recessionary mire,
confusion surrounding the legality of online gaming in the country more so according to the first-quarter figures Spanish-based operator Cirsa.
than the recently announced title sponsorship of the ATP Bet-at-home.com Source: Gambling Compliance
Tennis Open in Hamburg. Source: Gaming Intelligence Group
UKRAINE
GIBRALTAR Ukraine’s prime minister has signaled her intention to seek
As a result of European scrutiny over the past five years parliamentary enforcement of measures to withdraw existing
Gibraltar is now close to finally dismantling the Exempt gambling licences and force casinos and slot machine parlours to be exiled to
Company Regime which has allowed online gambling firms to enjoy zero remote parts of the country. Source: Gambling Compliance
corporate taxation, but operators domiciled there are hoping there may be
last minute concessions to soften the blow. UKRAINE
Source: Gambling Compliance Ukraine’s president has dramatically backed down in a dispute
with the country’s parliament and signed papers introducing a
GREECE gambling ban across the country. Source Gambling Compliance
By not repealing a law banning all types of slot machines,
Greece has drawn upon itself a fine of over currency13 million from UNITED KINGDOM
the European Court of Justice (ECJ), in addition to a further sanction of UK pub gaming machine provider Sceptre Leisure has raised
currency131,536 for each day the law remains unchanged. The law against electronic £5.5m through a placing with a new investor in order to fund
gambling machines outside of licensed casinos was passed in 2002, and a expansion and strengthen its balance sheet - but the company has refused to
new draft law may also be considered to be in breach of EU law. disclose the identity of the new backer.
Source: Euromat Source: Gambling Compliance
ITALY UNITED KINGDOM
The European Commission is examining the contract for the A new body that will be responsible for raising the money to
Italian scratchcard market, which is due to expire next year. fund UK research and treatment of problem gambling says it
Unless the current contract contains clauses allowing for an automatic expects to publish an annual ‘red list’ of gaming operators and other
renewal, the European Commission will require an EU-wide tender to be organisations that have contributed in an attempt to shame companies that
offered, in order to encourage competition between all potential licence- have failed pitch in any cash. Source: Gambling Compliance
holders. Source: Euromat
UNITED KINGDOM
IRELAND A high profile expert panel will report to the UK Government
It is expected that the government will introduce legislation to within six months on ways to spot suspicious betting
regulate both land based and on-line casino operations patterns and ensure integrity in sports gambling. Source Gambling
following the recent publication of the Casino Regulation Committee’s report Compliance
which recommends a modernisation of the gaming landscape in Ireland. The
contents of the new legislation are set to be intensely debated, and the issue UNITED STATES
of whether fixed odds betting terminals should be allowed in betting shops is The U.S 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has set a date of July
arguably the most heated. 7th to hear oral arguments from lawyers representing the
Source: Gambling Compliance Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) and the U.S
Department of Justice, as part of a court challenge by iMEGA against the
ITALY Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Source: Gaming Intelligence
A draft version of the regulations that will govern VLTs in Italy
has now been published, giving details of the location and UNITED STATES
pricing of the new machines, and the timing of their introduction into the The European Commission has published the outcome of its
market. Source: Gambling Compliance investigation into US laws on remote gambling and their
impact on EU suppliers. The report found that the US measures are
THE NETHERLANDS inconsistent with WTO rules, and it urged the US administration to address
Betfair’s decision to bring the Dutch government to court due the situation and end its “violation of global trade rules”. Source: Euromat
to its attempt to introduce an online payment ban has drawn
the attention of EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Charlie UNITED STATES
McCreevy. The European Commission will be investigating the actions of the In order to address public health issues surrounding problem
Dutch government. Commissioner McCreevy said: “We announced last year gambling which have been consistently overlooked by the U.S
that at least 10 member states were in contravention of internal market rules federal government, legislation was introduced last week that would for the
on gambling. There has been no progress at all.” first time devote federal resources to the research and treatment of problem
Source Euromat gambling in the United States. Source: Gaming Intelligence Group
JULY/AUGUST 2009
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