Draft Swiss gambling bill needs "substantial corrections"
Swiss Casino Association claims bill does not do enough to protect domestic operators from unregulated websites
Switzerland’s draft gambling bill requires “substantial corrections” if it is to meet its objectives, the Swiss Casino Association (SCA) claimed today as the bill’s consultation period comes to an end.
In a statement issued earlier this week on behalf of the 21 licensed casinos in Switzerland, the SCA said the current draft gaming law, which for the first time includes provision for online gambling, would not solve the issues currently affecting Switzerland’s gambling market and risked making them worse.
The statement read that casino revenues had fallen by 27% since 2007 and that the bill’s failure to properly address unregulated websites risked reducing domestic operators’ competitiveness even further.
“The legislature needs to focus on the original goals again,” Christophe Darbellay, president of the SCA, said adding that for Swiss citizens to choose domestic operators over foreign ones Swiss casinos must be allowed to be have offerings equally as attractive.
Six recommendations for the draft bill have been outlined by the SCA, including the provision that any casino game must be clearly defined by the law in order for operators to remain competitive, rather than allowing games approved in other jurisdictions.
The SCA has also requested that the online ban for Swiss casinos be repealed as soon as possible to allow them time to get operations up and running, and requested further measures to prohibit illegal gambling in the country.
Switzerland first moved to introduce new online gaming laws in February last year having concluded its previous attempts to prohibit it as ineffectual.
A draft gaming bill was published by the Swiss Federal Government in May this year and left open for consultation, which expires today.