Regulation round-up 23 April 2013
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (17 April to 23 April 2013)
Online slots and exchange betting regulated in Spain
Regulator announces opening of the regulation process “ first licences could be awarded by end of 2013
Spanish regulatory authority La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) has announced the regulation of online slots and exchange betting after a lengthy consultation process.
Earlier this year the regulator revealed it had entered into discussions with licensed operators, consumer groups and the Spanish government over the possibility of dot.es slots, following a successful launch of the product in Italy last December.
Meanwhile exchange betting, seen as less of a priority for the Spanish market given Betfair’s dominance of the sector, has also been legalised.
The licensing process for both products will begin once the ministerial order is completed outlining the requirements and parameters they must adhere to. These regulations are likely to be published within a few months, and Eduardo Morales-Hermo, a Madrid-based economist and gaming consultant, told eGaming Review both products could go live before the end of the year.
Egaming bill introduced in Pennsylvania
HB 1235 would see any slot machine licensee eligible for an online gambling licence
Online gambling in Pennsylvania moved a step closer on Monday with a bill that would legalise several forms of egaming introduced to the state’s legislature by its primary sponsor, Tina Davis.
HB 1235, which already has several co-sponsors, was referred to the House Committee on Gaming Oversight. It sets out plans to make any current slot machine licensee eligible for an online gambling licence which would cost US$5m upfront followed by a $500,000 renew fee every three years.
Under the terms of the bill, operators will be taxed at 28% of gross revenues, which will be distributed to good causes in the state. The bill also allows for Pennsylvania to form interstate and international compact agreements to allow for shared player liquidity.
Should the bill be passed into law, online poker will be legalised along with casino games such as roulette, baccarat, blackjack and craps. All online gambling activity would be overseen by the state’s Gaming Control Board.
Australia set for in-play promotion ban
Australian industry body proposes a total ban of promotion of live odds
Australia’s television industry body Free TV Australia (FTA) has proposed a total ban on promotion of all live odds during sports broadcasts, but left the door open for in-game advertising.
FTA proposed an amendment to the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice (the Code) on Monday that would ban commentators and guests from promoting live odds during a game and for 30 minutes before and after. The amendment is open for public comment until 20 May.
The amendment to The Code comes following an attempt to introduce legislation banning all advertising and promotion of live odds in the Australian parliament. But the proposed ban appears to only extend to promotion during the broadcasts and will leave the door open for advertising of in-play offerings.
PKR and Redbet added to Belgian blacklist
Regulator bans PKR and confirms domains for bwin.party and Circus Groupe.
PKR and Nordic Leisure brand Redbet are among the latest operators to be added to Belgium’s egaming blacklist, the country’s regulator has confirmed.
Alderney-licensed business PKR has seen its primary dot.com site and its pkrcasino.com domain blocked by the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC), while the same fate has befallen the dot.com domains of Malta-licensed operators Redbet and Klaver Casino plus Curacao-licensed GoldenCherry Casino.
Meanwhile the BGC confirmed the domains associated with the F1+ sports betting licences issued to bwin.party (bwin.be) and Circus Groupe (circusbet.be). Bwin.party was approved for a Belgian poker and casino offering last month, while its sports betting licence is in the name of CKO Betting NV.
Seven days in regulation:
ARJEL cancels sports betting operator’s licence
Aubsail SAS fails to meet regulator’s data-reporting, payout and dual certification requirements
Sports betting operator Aubsail SAS’ licence has been revoked by French regulator Autorité de regulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL).
The regulator ruled the average amount of money paid to players by Aubsail SAS’s www.france-pari-sportif.fr site exceeded 85% between the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first three quarters of 2012, according to a ruling published on ARJEL’s website. The 85% limit is imposed as a measure to reduce gambling addiction.
Aubsail SAS also failed to meet regulations requiring real-time data archiving on a server and was therefore unable to provide details regarding player identity and accounts to the regulator. ARJEL also noted the operator had failed to secure dual certification for its technology, required to prove player safety.
Online poker language introduced in Massachusetts
Bill would permit no more than three online poker licences and post-UIGEA operators would be blocked
An amendment that would legalise and regulate online poker in Massachusetts has been attached to the state’s budget bill and attracted support from 18 House of Representatives members.
The amendment to House Bill 3400 proposes no more than three online poker licences would be granted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the same number of land-based casinos permitted under state law. Each licence would last for 10 years and would come with a fee of US$10m, initially applied to the first $10m in taxes or cover the first two years if $10m in taxes are not payable during that time.
NJ sports betting appeal fast-tracked
Oral arguments for the legalisation of sports betting could begin next month
New Jersey’s appeal against the prohibition of sports betting in the state could be heard as early as 27 May in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
The court has informed the attorneys of the professional sports leagues, backed by the Department of Justice (DoJ), and the defendant New Jersey that the hearings for their oral arguments have been “tentatively listed” on the agenda for 26 June, according to NorthJersey.com.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is challenging the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) federal law prohibiting all states from offering sports betting except Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon. The state, represented by former US solicitor general Ted Olson, filed an appeal with the Third Circuit US Court of Appeals last month after federal judge Michael Shipp granted a permanent injunction against the state.
Sports betting advertising ban proposed in Australia
Left-wing Greens Party set to present parliament with petition to ban gambling ads
Australia’s Greens Party has called for a ban on gambling advertising during televised sport matches along with the reference of bookmakers’ odds by match commentators during live games.
Senator Richard Di Natale has drafted legislation which would prohibit the advertisement or mention of betting odds during sports broadcasts. The politician will also present the Australian Parliament with a petition, which was published on the party’s website on 20 March.
The petition states gambling advertisements could influence children and argues “the loophole allowing the advertising of gambling services in children’s viewing hours” should be closed, although it is unclear how many people have signed it.