Regulation round-up 15 September 2015
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (9 September to 15 September 2015)
Bet365 facing penalties after Australian Federal Court judgement
Software error blamed for free bets offer which featured on site for nine months with no T&Cs
Bet365 is facing financial penalties after the Federal Court of Australia ruled that a nine-month free bets promotion misled punters.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) had alleged that a sign-up offer of AU$200 of free bets featuring on bet365 Australia’s ‘splash page’ – or welcome page – misled and deceived customers.
It said customers would not simply receive free bets but would in fact have to risk the value of their deposit and free bet amount three times before being able to make a withdrawal.
The offer was live on the site from 18 March 2013 to 13 Jane 2014 with no reference to applicable terms and conditions, and remained on the site with ‘T&Cs apply’ attached for a further three weeks.
Betclic plots Belgium launch following blacklist removal
Betclic Everest Group (BEG) is preparing to launch in Belgium’s online gambling market after the Belgium Gaming Commission (BGC) removed the operator’s four brands from its blacklist.
The removal comes after the operator last week met with the BGC in Brussels and agreed to pay approximately 80,000 in fines handed down to around 160 Belgium-based players judged to have been transacting with Betclic’s unlicensed sites.
The blacklist removal has enabled the operator to enter advanced-stage talks with land-based casino Circus Groupe, owner of casinos in Spa and Namur, with the intention of launching a new betclic.be site, subject to approval from the regulator.
Seven days in regulation:
Italy presses ahead with gambling advertising ban
Italy-facing operators could face fines of up to 500,000 if they violate the country’s proposed ban on gambling-related advertising as the bill continues to make progress through the Italian parliament.
The ‘Introduzione del divieto di pubblicità per i giochi con vincite in denaro’ (Introduction of the ban on advertising for games with cash prizes) states those in violation of the law will be subject to fines of between 50,000 (£36,665) and 500,000 (£366,648).
According to the bill, the fines would be imposed on all parties involved in the release of any advert deemed to have broken the law including the gambling operator, any third-party responsible for carrying it out and the platform provider hosting the campaign.
Q&A: Malta Gaming Authority explains regulatory overhaul
It’s not been the easiest of years for the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) after the Southern European island was caught up in a mafia-related gambling scandal.
In July the regulator suspended the licences of two companies with alleged links to a gambling ring run by the notorious Calabrian mafia organisation ‘Ndrangheta. Six Italian nationals in Malta were also arrested by the authorities.
In the wake of such alleged illegal ctivity on the island the MGA was forced to defend its record. The minister of finance Edward Scicluna said at the time he would seek a review of the regulator’s due diligence process for licensees. However, the MGA insisted its compliance and pre-licensing checks were some of the most rigorous and stringent of any egaming jurisdiction.
Slim hope remains for Brazil gambling legislation
Brazil’s proposed regulation of sports betting could still go ahead after the country’s Congress extended the deadline by which it must vote to overturn a presidential veto on the bill.
The original deadline passed earlier this month without action, seemingly signalling the end for the proposal. But a backlog in Congress means lawmakers will now debate the veto next Tuesday.
However, it appears unlikely that a majority of both houses of Brazil’s parliament, which is needed to overturn the veto, will be found, meaning any future regulation proposals must once again begin from square one.
Holland Casino privatisation plans questioned
The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has questioned whether plans to privatise monopoly operator Holland Casino will lead to strong market competition.
In a letter sent to the Ministry of Security and Justice, the ACM said current proposals for Holland Casino to retain 10 of its current 14 casinos could leave the operator with a dominant market position.
“ACM believes that promoting more competition in the gaming industry will create options and opportunities for consumers and businesses,” an ACM spokesperson told eGaming Review.
“In its current form, the bill in question offers room for new entrants but we wonder whether this room is big enough to ensure effective competition,” he added.