Regulation round-up 04 July 2017
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (28th June to 4th July 2017)
Gibraltar to revamp egaming tax structure
The Gibraltar government has announced plans to restructure the jurisdiction’s egaming tax system.
In his budget address to parliament last week, gaming minister Albert Isola said the end of the GBGA PoC tax case had created an opportunity to modernise the current system.
“I plan to discuss with the industry in the months to come how we can both modernise and consolidate the current charges into a simpler and more consistent model of taxation and fees,” he said.
Triennial Review findings delayed until “October at the earliest”
The results of the government’s Triennial Review into FOBT stakes and gambling advertising will not be published until October at the earliest, according to Tracey Crouch, the minister with responsibility for gambling.
Crouch was asked about the review, which was launched in October last year, during Thursday’s Ministers Questions in the House of Commons.
“Purdah [ahead of the election] interrupted the final stages of our consideration of the evidence received and the subsequent internal cross-government process of approval and sign-off,” Crouch explained.
Seven days in regulation:
Colombia issues first online gaming licence
Colombian gaming regulator Coljuegos has officially opened the country’s regulated market by issuing its first online gambling licence to WPlay.co.
The sportsbook is operated by Apuesta Global Group, a Medellin firm which operates land-based slot machines.
The regulator said it expected to issue more licences throughout the year and raise approximately £2m in gaming tax.
Betsson calls for EU to take action against Dutch gaming regulation
Betsson has called on the European Commission to re-open court proceedings against the Dutch Gaming Authority, claiming its new enforcement policy is not compliant with European law.
A Betsson statement said European Commission proceedings brought against Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) in 2006 and 2008 were paused after the authority pledged to liberalise the market but should be re-opened since the current political situation means new legislation is unlikely until “after the next election in four years”.
William Hill CEO hails US sports betting opportunity
William Hill CEO Philip Bowcock has hailed the company’s US growth opportunities after the country’s Supreme Court agreed to hear a case on the legalisation of sports betting.
The case pits New Jersey against the US professional sports leagues which claim the state’s attempts to legalise betting violate the federal law PASPA.
Should New Jersey triumph it would be allowed to offer legal sports betting at its casinos and racetracks, with other states encouraged to pass similar legislation.
Portugal issues sportsbook licence to Casino Portugal
The Portuguese gambling authority has issued its seventh online gaming licence to local operator Figuerira Company Praia and its online brand Casino Portugal.
The casinoportugal.pt domain will compete against Bet.pt and Betclic Everest to provide fixed odds sports betting to local players.
This is the seventh online licence to be issued by the Comissão de Jogos (Gaming Commission), with the market considered to be something of a failure since its inception 18 months ago thanks to stifling taxes.