Denmark ISP ordered to block 12 sites
Betclic Everest subsidiary and seven Playtech-powered sites to be blocked by internet service provider 3.
The Danish Gambling Authority (DGA) has had its move to block 12 unlicensed egaming operators’ sites upheld by a Frederiksberg court with internet service provider (ISP) 3 required to block the websites within a fortnight.
The websites are to be blocked after failing to respond or act on requests from the DGA to cease operating in the market, and include Betclic Everest subsidiary Bet-at-home and seven Playtech-powered sites.
These sites include Winner.com and Titanpoker.com “ which yesterday launched the solutions provider’s Speed Hold’em product “ Europa Casino, Casino Tropez, Europa Casino, Casino Bellini and Casino del Rio, all of which are licensed in Antigua and Barbuda and powered by Playtech software.
In addition Casino Red Vegas, also powered by Playtech but licensed in Kahnawake and Microgaming skin Cool Hand Poker, are to be blocked alongside Belize licensees Casino Mel, Casino Alhambra and Amazing Video Poker, all of which accept US customers.
In a statement released this afternoon the DGA explained that it monitors the sector to “identify gambling operators who offer games on the Danish gambling market without the proper Danish licence. These efforts have uncovered several websites, who have been contact in an attempt to end their illegal activities.
“A large number of these websites have corrected their gambling offer so they no longer contravene the Danish gambling law. However, some websites continue to offer games without a Danish licence,” the statement said.
The internet service provider 3 will now have fourteen days to comply with the court’s ruling, and block the sites. It has been targeted rather than the sites themselves, as one of the conditions in Denmark’s regulatory framework states:
“Transmission of payments of stakes and winnings to and from an illegal provider of gambling activities as well as transmission of information via a communication network to an illegal gambling system is not permitted.”
The injunction is the first action taken by the DGA to combat unlicensed operators since the market regulated in January, with a number of safeguards already in place. In February it launched a ‘whistleblower’ service, which members of the public can use to report illegal sites, while the Danish ID verification service NemID has already been criticised for complicating the registration process for new customers.
It follows Belgium’s introduction of a blacklist in February this year, with Everest Poker, 888 and Chilipoker among the first to be added. Bwin was one of ten added in May this year, losing an appeal against the blacklisting earlier this month
The full list of banned sites:
- casinoredvegas.com (Kahnawake – Playtech)
- bet-at-home.com (Malta)
- coolhandpoker.com (Microgaming – Malta)
- casinotropez.com (Antigua “ Playtech)
- winner.com (Antigua “ Playtech)
- titanpoker.com (Antigua “ Playtech)
- europacasino.com (Antigua “ Playtech)
- casinodelrio.com (Antigua “ Playtech)
- casinobellini.com (Antigua “ Playtech)
- casinomel.com (Belize)
- casino-alhambra.com (Belize)
- amazingvideopoker.com (Belize)