Regulation round-up 10 November 2015
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (4 November to 10 November 2015)
Unibet chief dismisses accusations of illegal marketing in Norway
Henrik Tjärnström says Unibet is fully compliant as regulator accuses operator of breaking local advertising laws
Unibet chief executive Henrik Tjärnström says he is “very confident” the firm is acting legally in the Norwegian market as the country’s regulator continues to mount pressure on operators it says are flouting local marketing laws.
Tjärnström told eGaming Review the operator was “fully compliant” with the appropriate regulations, and that the firm has considered “overarching” European laws in its decision to continue to advertise in the market.
“The Norwegian market is an important market for us,” Tjärnström told eGR. “We are very confident that what we are doing in Norway is completely fine. It is business as usual for us.”
Unibet is one of several foreign operators that advertise on television in Norway via TV networks broadcasting from abroad.
Italian politicians ramp-up anti-advertising rhetoric
A proposed ban on gambling advertising in Italy is gaining widespread political support and must be implemented “quickly” if the country is to tackle organised crime, a politician working closely on the draft bill has said.
Speaking on a finance committee last week, Democratic MP Federico Ginato urged parliament to waste no time in prohibiting gambling advertising, a measure which is now “eagerly awaited and shared not only by the majority of political groups but even by the government itself”.
The draft law, which would prohibit any advertising initiative, commercial communication and sponsorship deal for real-money gambling products, has received cross-party support with MPs from parties including the Democratic, Alternative Free and 5 Star Movement backing the bill.
Those in favour of the ban argue that gambling advertising has encouraged criminals to use the industry as a conduit for money laundering and other crimes.
Seven days in regulation:
Australian state to ban live odds advertising
New South Wales (NSW) will become the first Australian state to ban the advertising of live betting odds during sporting broadcasts, the state’s deputy premier Troy Grant has announced.
A ban on the promotion of in-play prices will come into force on 1 March 2016 and operators found to be in violation could face fines of up to AU$55,000 (£25,700) per incident.
The regulatory changes, announced on Saturday by the The Nationals MP, will include live NRL, AFL and football broadcasts of four hours or less, on both TV and radio.
Sportech VAT appeal delayed
Sportech’s multi-million pound dispute with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over a £93m VAT refund has been prolonged after an appeal hearing due to begin this week was delayed.
In a statement, Sportech said it had been advised that its appeal to the Court of Appeal had been pushed back due to a “lack of judicial availability”.
The firm added that the Court of Appeal would schedule a new hearing date and that it would inform shareholders accordingly.
The Swedish online gambling trade body BOS (Branschföreningen för Onlinespel) has become the latest member of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) as discussions over the country’s online gambling framework gather pace.
“It is with great joy that BOS has been approved as an affiliate member of EGBA,” Gustaf Hoffstedt, secretary general of BOS, said.
“If we are to achieve full effect in the EU-related work we have to muster our forces, and this is where EGBA comes into play,” he added.