Regulation round-up 24 January 2012
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (18 January to 24 January 2012).
Vilotte hints at French skill games regulation
Regulator ARJEL to submit proposals for regulation in February 2013 “ sports betting decline continues
ARJEL president Jean-François Vilotte has hinted at possible regulation of skill games in the French market.
Speaking at ARJEL’s first ceremony of vows in 2012, Vilotte announced plans to present a report on new and sustainable methods to regulate skill games to the French finance minister in February 2013. Skill games are currently banned under the terms of laws signed into effect in May 1836 “ banning lotteries “ and an 1983 ruling banning games of chance, but he added that it may take up to a year to look into regulating the vertical.
He also discussed the current state of the French market, stressing that the regulation passed in May 2010 was “not final” and is subject to change, but admitted that changes would be affected by the political and cultural climate. Last year he called for changes to the regulatory model, claiming that under the current terms tax revenues would decrease, with players increasingly moving to illegal sites.
Rubin pleads guilty to 3 Black Friday charges
Black Friday indictee Ira Rubin has pleaded guilty to three of the nine counts brought against him in a Manhattan federal court yesterday.
Rubin, whose lawyer Stuart Meissner had earlier claimed was “unlikely” to face trial due to “an agreement in principal [reached] with the government,”admitted to money laundering, bank and wire fraud, and gambling offences.
According to his plea agreement, seen by the Wall Street Journal, he has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate UIGEA, conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy (counts 1, 8 and 9 in the initial indictment).
DC egaming proposals “improperly” added claims inspector general
The District of Columbia inspector general has found that the district’s egaming proposals were “improperly” tagged on to a lottery contract after bidding had closed.
According to the Washington Post, a report from Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby “ due out in the coming days “ criticised DC chief financial officer Natwar M Gandhi for failing both to provide a written notice and to re-open the contract for bidding once the egaming elements were tagged on, thereby potentially depriving the district of “the best price” for the lottery contract.
However the report “found no evidence” with regards to accusations that council member Michael Brown “lobbied or received anything on behalf of any gaming entity or did anything improper which resulted in the council voting for the legislation.”
Iowa Senator could introduce new online poker bill
Iowa Senator Jeff Danielson could be set to introduce a new online poker bill after the recent Wire Act clarification gave him belief that a “multi-state compact” was a realistic possibility.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission released a report into the impact of regulated online poker last month after egaming elements were stripped out of Danielson’s initial gambling bill in April.
Mahjong Logic upgrades Isle of Man licence
Software provider Mahjong Logic has upgraded its Isle of Man online gaming licence to include B2B capabilities.
As a result the company can now offer its licensees a network services licence, standard licence or sub-licensing services.