Regulation round-up 29 September 2015
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (23 September to 29 September 2015)
Sweden to launch re-regulation enquiry
Study into new framework to be published by March 2017 and could have major ramifications for monopoly operator Svenska Spel
Sweden’s Ministry of Finance will launch an inquiry into the effects of a potential re-regulation of the country’s gambling market in a move which could spell the end of state monopoly Svenska Spel.
In a statement the Ministry said the inquiry, which is due to report by 31 March 2017, will “develop proposals for a regulation that is characterised by a high level of consumer protection” while also pledging that any regulation would ensure that operators without a licence would be shut out of the market.
In a list of 18 directives published by the government to guide the inquiry, it said the state’s role in any re-regulated environment should also be considered.
Among other directives, the inquiry will be tasked with recommending a suitable tax rate for licensed operators and will also consider whether additional marketing restrictions on gaming should be introduced.
888 makes delayed Danish entry
888 has entered the Danish market with a full suite of products after being granted an operating licence by the local regulator for the second time.
The operator has gone live with 888casino, 888poker and 888sport on dot.dk domains with their launch coming after the firm revealed it had re-applied for a licence in the country earlier this year.
888 was originally awarded a Danish licence back in 2011, but put its launch on hold and returned its permit in order to pursue the development of its US business.
At the time, 888 chief operating officer Itai Frieberger said the firm believed the US market provided the bigger opportunity, but in hindsight should have pressed ahead with its plans for Denmark.
Seven days in regulation
Brazil gambling veto stands but pressure for regulation grows
Brazil’s Congress has failed to overturn a presidential veto on a bill that would have regulated sports betting in the country, but pressure to introduce a new regulatory framework appears to be growing.
Although Congress failed to take what would have been an unusual step of overruling President Dilma Rousseff’s veto of the gambling bill, a new bill has already been tabled while another politician has joined the growing ranks of those to have come out in favour of regulation.
Addressing a plenary session last week, Senator Benedito de Lira became the latest to call for regulation, arguing that the revenue it could generate would help Brazil close its budget deficit.
Belgium Lottery fined 1.2m for abusing monopoly position
Belgium’s National Lottery was hit with a 1.2m fine by the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) after it was judged to have “abused” its monopolistic lottery position to launch an online sports betting product.
An investigation by the BCA into the Loterie Nationale found the operator had used contact details of players it acquired through its position as lottery monopoly to promote the launch of Scooore! in January 2013.
The lottery operator was deemed to have not acquired the contact details to promote the online sportsbook in a competitive manner and was also found to have obtained commercially sensitive information of its sports betting competitors in 2011 and 2013.
Bookies promised savings in new racing media rights deal
Bookmakers in the UK are set to benefit from a reduction in costs for racing media rights after Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and Satellite Information Services (SIS) announced a five-year picture and data rights deal.
Both parties said the deal represented an improved and more efficient relationship between the RMG and bookmakers, providing a “significant uplift” in payments to racecourses and savings to bookmakers over current arrangements.
The savings will come from a reduction in market inefficiencies or “leakage” between what bookmakers pay for media rights and what the race course actually receives, caused by SIS and rival TurfTV running services to bookies in parallel.