Regulation round-up 29 July 2014
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (23 July to 29 July 2014)
RGA dismisses UK self-exclusion fears
Details of new blanket opt-out system could be released in September as RGA defends beefed-up self-exclusion plans
The Remote Gaming Association (RGA) says “good progress” is being made on a UK-wide customer self-exclusion scheme despite critics claiming the measure could end up forcing customers into the arms of black market operators.
The RGA has been working alongside the regulator in recent months in order to develop a system to enable consumers to block themselves from all Gambling Commission-licensed remote operators with just a click of a button.
And according to the RGA, finer details of the new self-exclusion scheme should be announced by the end of September with the system potentially in place before the end of the year.
However, plans for a nation-wide opt-out scheme have been met with mixed response with some stakeholders concerned the measure could see those blocked from licensed sites forced into the arms of unlicensed operators.
Online bookies face UK sports levy
Online bookmakers taking bets on UK sports events face a further squeeze on margins after the country’s opposition Labour Party said it was considering plans to extend the horse racing betting levy to all sports.
The ‘betting right’, an idea also floated by the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition earlier this year, would tax the profits bookies make from UK sporting events with proceeds channelled into supporting grassroots sports and problem gambling.
Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman unveiled the plans as part of a wider consultation into how a Labour government would encourage more children to take part in sport.
Seven days in regulation:
Dutch Remote Gaming Bill details revealed
The Dutch Remote Gaming Bill has been presented to the country’s House of Representatives as the country continues to move towards a predicted market opening of Q2 2015.
The Bill was submitted last week and has now passed stage two of six, with the next step being its activation for plenary of Parliament where discussions will begin in September.
The new measures are set for discussion and possible alteration before the Bill is submitted to the country’s Senate, and the Bill is still expected to be passed into law by 1 January 2015.
Turkey blocks 110 unlicensed gambling sites
Turkey’s telecommunications regulator TIB last week revealed the extent of the nation’s attempted clamp down on unlicensed operators after revealing it blocked access to 110 unnamed domains over the course of the last five years.
The figure, which was revealed within TIB’s 2014 annual report, comes as the result of an initiative conducted in tandem with the Turkish National Lottery in order to reduce the size of the unlicensed market.
The report showed the Lottery requested the regulator block access to a total of 440 websites across the period, including 93 websites in 2009, 119 in 2010, 110 in 2011, 88 in 2012 and 30 last year.
Gambling industry stands united against sports levy plans
A raft of bookmakers and industry bodies have opposed the Labour Party’s plans to apply a tax on operators’ profits made from UK sporting events should it win the 2015 General Election next May.
The opposition party kicked-off a consultation in which it announced it was keen to extend the current horse racing levy to all UK sports in order to fund grassroots sports and problem gambling initiatives.
However the consultation, which also includes plans to collect and distribute money laying in dormant betting accounts, has been given short shrift by bookmakers and industry bodies alike.
Aussie bookies face minimum bet limit on horse racing
Claims that Australian customers are having their accounts blocked and bets restricted has seen the racing board of New South Wales impose a new minimum bet limit from 1 September.
RacingNSW announced last week that operators with a turnover of more than AU$5m taking bets in the state will be required to lay bets to lose a minimum of $2,000 at a city meeting, while race meets outside of the city will have a $1,000 threshold.
Bookies with less than a $5m turnover must lay a bet with a minimum of $1,000 payout on all thoroughbred meetings.
Philippines online gambling bill filed
A bill aiming to regulate online gambling in the Philippines, with the threat of jail sentences for operators allowing underage gambling, has been introduced in the country’s legislature.
Samuel Pagdilao, a representative for the country’s Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) division, filed House Bill 4540, also known as the Internet Gambling Regulatory Act 2014, two weeks ago.
“People are no longer bound to physical locations and are able to face their bets from within their own homes,” Pagdilao said.
Opposition to Dutch Gaming Bill grows
Criticism of the draft Dutch Gaming Bill continues to mount after finer details of the legislation were released in supporting documents last Wednesday.
In a statement released on Thursday the country’s senior advisory body the Council of State urged a rethink over several facets of the bill, particularly those relating to the 20% gross gaming revenue tax rate and additional contributions to a gambling addiction fund and the regulatory body.
It was revealed last week that gambling operators would have to pay an as-yet-undisclosed sum for a licence and comply with a number of stringent responsible gambling initiatives, while mandatory contributions to charitable causes may also be enacted.
888Casino warned by ASA for “misleading” ads
888 has had its knuckles rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after the regulator upheld complaints of “misleading” advertising relating to the operator’s 888Casino brand.
The ASA received two separate complaints for a poster ad on the London Underground and an ad on 888.com which both carried the offer of “£88 Free – No Deposit Required” for new customers.
The complainants claimed to be initially unaware of terms and conditions which indicated free play winnings could only be withdrawn to a maximum of £20 and after being wagered a minimum of 30 times.
Dutch regulator strengthens board ahead of new bill
The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) has appointed economist Joop Pot to its board of directors as it prepares for 1 January deadline.
Pot, who is currently a member of the Council for the Judiciary, replaces Paul Tang, who announced he was leaving the regulator earlier this year.
He will join chairman Jan Suyver and director Marja Appelman to make up a three-person board at the organisation from 1 November.