Regulation round-up 07/02/12
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (1 February to 7 February 2012).
Exclusive: Iowa bill to be introduced this week
Legislation drawn up with assistance of US Digital Gaming, that would provide a gaming platform in the state.
A fresh online gaming bill is due to be introduced into the Hawkeye State’s legislature this week by State Senator Jeff Danielson, eGaming Review has learned.
Drawn up following discussions with US Digital Gaming (USDG), the bill would see the American company provide a platform for a regulated egaming environment in the state.
USDG was one of two potential operators named in December’s report into egaming regulation in Iowa, and has been selected by Senator Danielson to help draw up the bill after its involvement in similar prospective legislation in Hawaii.
Jon Richmond, CEO of USDG, told eGR: “We’ve had people on the ground in Iowa helping to draft the bill and working with Jeff Danielson… this is a good example of the grass roots effort that needs to go on [for state-by-state legislation to progress].”
Three suppliers bid for US$450m Ontario lottery contract
GTECH G2, OpenBet and new Cryptologic and Chartwell owners Amaya are so far the only suppliers to have tendered for the lucrative Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) contract, eGaming Review can reveal.
As exclusively reported by eGR last year, the Canadian lottery opened the tender process on 9 December, initially seeking a platform provider with casino games to allow it to launch with an online casino and lottery product. Since then a number of large providers have been busily putting together their applications for a slice of North America’s biggest online gaming contract outside the US estimated to be worth up to CA$75m in profit to the winner, however so far only three firms are known to have lodged formal bids.
The deadline, however is understood to have been extended at the request of nine other companies thought be close to submitting proposals, a source close to the matter told eGR. A total of 12 firms are expected to apply, however the extension period is unknown.
Seven days in regulation:
MGM and Boyd apply for Nevada licences
MGM Resorts International and Boyd Gaming have submitted their applications to offer online poker in Nevada, according to reports.
According to information obtained by US poker site Card Player the two land-based operators have applied following the deals signed with bwin.party in October last year.
Fertitta Interactive applies for Nevada licences
Fertitta Interactive, the US egaming company co-owned by the owners of Station Casinos, has applied for operator and service provider licences in the state of Nevada.
It is only the second company to apply for both licences, after South Point, and follows Monarch Gaming in applying for an operator licence.
Unibet confirms Belgian licence application
Unibet has become the latest egaming operator to apply for an operating licence in Belgium, and will look to offer an online sports betting product in the EU member state.
As with bwin, which applied for a Belgian licence last month, Unibet is only considering a sports betting licence.
ARJEL signs cooperation agreement with IOC
French regulatory authority ARJEL has signed a cooperation agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of this summer’s Games in London.
The agreement will see the two bodies exchange information with the aim of detecting suspicious betting activity during the event, which begins on 27 July this year.