Regulation round-up 13 March 2012
The biggest regulatory news from the last seven days (7 March - 13 March 2012).
Exclusive: New Jersey to open egaming in September
Senator Lesniak says he is just nine days away from getting his bill approved in both houses and signed by Governor Chris Christie before becoming first state to offer regulated online gambling in the US “ will then reach out to other states to “compact” with it .
New Jersey will become the first state in the United States to offer regulated intrastate online gambling as soon as September this year after Senator Raymond Lesniak exclusively revealed to eGaming Review that he expects both houses to pass his bill in nine days time, followed “shortly” by the signature of Governor Chris Christie.
Lesniak told eGR last night he was confident his legislation would pass both the Assembly and the Senate and that it would be signed by the Governor without the need for a referendum after gaining his full support to allow the state to become the “blueprint” for internet gaming in the United States.
When asked whether Nevada would be first past the post after announcing a poker-only bill and currently processing applications, the Senator said: “The blueprint is going to be established by the state that gets it up and operational and captures market share first and that’s going to be New Jersey.
“I expect that my legislation will pass both houses “ the Assembly and the Senate “ on 15 March which will authorise intrastate online gaming in New Jersey and that it will be signed by Governor Christie without the need to go through a referendum to amend the constitution.
Exclusive: 80% of operators handed Spanish licence pre-approvals
Eighty per cent of operators applying for licences in Spain have received pre-approval notifications from the regulator, local sources have revealed to eGaming Review.
More than 40 of the 50-plus operators applying for licences in the soon-to-be-regulated Spanish market have seen their applications deemed adequate ahead of the issuing of licences next month, and are now just waiting for final approval before being named in the first wave of licensees, according to a number of sources close to the matter.
Regulators are expected to give 15 days notice before awarding the first wave of licences at the same time. An announcement giving this notice is “just weeks away”, according to one local source. “They have been notified that the majority of them have complied with requirements,” he said. It is unclear at this stage as to whether any companies have failed to meet the standards required by the Spanish regulator.
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Seven days in regulation:
Canadian single-bet sports betting bill reaches Senate
A bill that would allow single-game sports bets in Canada has passed its third reading on Parliament Hill.
Bill C-290 would allow gamblers to bet on single sporting events instead of the current parlay system. Betting on single events is currently outlawed throughout the country where gamblers have to bet on at least three games. Single bets were banned in 1985 after amendments were made to the country’s Criminal Code on the basis that the ability to place single bets would provide incentives for match fixing and corruption, damaging the integrity of sport. Nevada is the only state in North America which allows customers to place single bets.
After passing its third reading, the bill has now been sent to the Senate where it is currently under consideration. It was introduced by Joe Comartin, MP for Windsor-Tecumseh, and passed its second reading in the middle of last month.
AAMS appeal against Lottomatica Lotto concession rejected
A court in Rome has rejected an appeal by Italian regulator AAMS against the awarding of the Italian lotto concession to Lottomatica, the company has announced.
The case dates back to 2005 when AAMS appealed to a Court of Arbitrators to challenge an arbitration committee’s ruling that Lottomatica’s contract to operate lotto games in Italy ended on 8 June 2016 and not 17 April 2012 as the regulator asserted. The court also confirmed that the contract had been awarded with a start date of 8 June 1998, for a duration of 18 years.
32Red awarded Italian licence
AIM-listed operator 32Red has been awarded an Italian egaming licence, the company revealed today in its preliminary results statement for the 12 months ended 31 December 2011.
Chief executive Ed Ware had revealed to eGaming Review last November that the operator hoped to launch in the EU member state this year, and it explained in a statement today that “Work continues on our technical platform in order to be ready to go live in the first half of 2012.”
The company follows PKR and Betsson in receiving an Italian licence in recent months, with the former having launched its dot.it poker offering in February.
32Red sensitive to US partnerships
32Red is “in conversations” with potential US partners as it begins to look more closely at the market, chief executive Ed Ware has told eGaming Review.
The Gibraltar-licensed operator enjoys a favourable reputation among casino players in the United States despite withdrawing from the market in 2004, and with progress being made at state levels in particular Ware (pictured) admits the firm is “more sensitive towards the US than we have been for years”.
“In the past we’d said we’ll believe it when it happens “ even now with the Wire Act clarification and with draft legislation in California we’re not entirely sure how seriously we can take it,” he explained. “However we’re a pretty obvious partner for people from that side of the pond, and are having conversations all the time. For the first time since around 2006 we’re keeping our ears open and actively listening to what’s going on.
NMi to provide compliance testing in Denmark
Testing, certifying and training specialist NMi has become the first European-based lab to achieve the accreditation to provide gaming compliance testing in Denmark.
Following an extension of its accreditation, NMi will supply compliance within the newly regulated territory, covering all aspects of testing from software to operations.