Regulation round-up 28 September 2017
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (21 September to 28 September 2017)
Breon Corcoran asks UK government for £10 FOBT stake limit
Outgoing PPB chief executive tells Tracey Crouch the issue is too “toxic” not to impose a significant cut on stakes
Paddy Power Betfair has called for a £10 limit on FOBT stakes, arguing that operators should be able to run a profitable retail estate under those circumstances.
The operator’s outgoing CEO Breon Corcoran made the claims in a letter sent to Tracey Crouch, the minister at the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, seen by EGR.
Malta Gaming Authority leads trial cryptocurrency roll-out
Malta is plotting a trial cryptocurrency roll-out following a suggestion made by auditing firm PwC in a recent Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) commissioned report.
According to the Times of Malta, the initiative will see a mock cryptocurrency introduced within a controlled environment, to test proposed controls and legislation without harming the local economy.
Labour proposes new levy on bookies to fund problem gambling treatment
The UK Labour Party has revealed plans to impose a new compulsory levy on bookmakers with the proceeds going towards treatments for gambling addiction.
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said the levy would specifically fund NHS treatment in an effort to end the “destructive cycle of addiction”.
German grey market set to continue as states refuse new gambling treaty
The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has announced it will not ratify the proposed new State Treaty on Gambling potentially prolonging the country’s grey market.
The new treaty would have limited in-play betting, put a €1,000 pcm limit on customer stake and effectively banned gaming.
And while the leaders of the 16 German states signed the treaty back in March, it still required approval from the state parliaments.
Schleswig-Holstein said it would not ratify the treaty, arguing for an entirely new law that includes licences for online casinos, while North Rhine-Westphalia also announced it will not ratify the new law.
William Hill’s Andrew Lyman named Gibraltar regulatory head
The Gibraltar government has announced Andrew Lyman as the new head of Gibraltar’s gambling authority.
Lyman will take over from Phill Brear, who will step into an authority advisory role in January 2018.
Lyman is currently the director of regulatory affairs at William Hill, while his previous roles include director of monitoring and enforcement at the UK Gambling Commission and chief executive for the Association of British Bookmakers.
New Spanish licensing window: Everything you need to know
Mauro De Fabritiis, partner at strategic consultancy MAG, outlines what happens next after the DGOJ revealed plans to open a third licensing window.