Regulation round-up 5 February 2013
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days 30 January to 5 February 2013).
Dutch regulator sets end of year deadline for egaming law
Five-hour meeting between Europe’s leading operators and regulator in The Hague yesterday will be followed by further consultation in April.
The Dutch gaming regulator has told companies interested in operating in the country that it plans to have its new online gambling legislation finalised in parliament by the end of the year, eGaming Review has learned.
In yesterday’s five-hour meeting in The Hague, attended by representatives from almost all of Europe’s largest operators, the Netherlands Gaming Authority (NGA) set out plans for further consultation in April and a timeline to finalise its egaming laws by the end of this year.
A source that attended the meeting told eGR that the regulator, which confirmed its intentions to legalise egaming in the country in October last year, showed itself to be an “open partner” during a “very pleasant exchange of opinions” moderated by NGA board member Dr Paul Tang.
The attendee list featured almost all of Europe’s biggest operators “ including Bet365, William Hill, PokerStars, Ladbrokes, IGT, Bwin, PKR and Betfair.
Gib operator group ready to challenge UK gov over POCT
The influential Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) has urged the UK government to “abandon” the regulatory changes outlined in its draft version of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) bill and stated that it would have “little alternative” but to take legal action to challenge its decision if it went ahead with its proposals.
In written evidence sent to the government’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee the 24 member body, that includes some of the largest licensees on the Rock, called the proposed draft bill “misconceived and unwarranted” on any objective analysis of the online gambling industry and the levels of consumer protection achieved by the existing UK regime.
Its submission was alongside 30 other written documents from operators including Ladbrokes, 888, Gala Coral, William Hill, Betfair, and Rank to name just a few, while organisations including the Football Association, the Advertising Association and the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) also submitted evidence on opinions on what has so far proved an unpopular series of changes to the industry.
Seven days in regulation:
Spanish regulator issues draft bingo amendments
Spanish regulatory authority the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) has released draft legislation which proposes to offer operators more freedom in their bingo offerings.
Under the new proposals, which the DGOJ says would be introduced “In order to eliminate anticompetitive restraints,” operators would be permitted to go beyond the 90, 80 and 75 variants of the game providing they make the regulator aware of any changes they wish to make.
Operators would also be permitted to replace numbers on bingo cards with alternative symbols, thus giving them greater control to customise their offering.
Spanish regulator “unconcerned” by PokerStars dominance
The Spanish gambling regulator has responded to criticism that its newly regulated online poker market has failed due to PokerStars’ dominance by saying he is “unconcerned” about whether the market is competitive or not.
Enrique Alejo, general director at the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), has told eGaming Review that the Spanish online poker market is “taking its own course” and that as long as operators respect the laws, it will not intervene.
Alejo was responding to claims that the DGOJ has allowed PokerStars to secure a 70% market share, leaving almost all other operators fighting over minimal player numbers. Only 888 has managed to achieved sustainable liquidity following significant investment in marketing.
Delaware Lottery issues egaming RFP
The Delaware State Lottery has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an egaming system and service provider as it moves closer to launching online gambling for the first time.
The state is seeking a number of suppliers and content providers in order to offer a full suite of online games after Delaware Governor Jack Markellapproved a bill in June 2012 that legalised online gambling and more venues for sports betting in the state.
The RFP calls for companies to tender for the position of backend technology platform provider and operations manager, as well as internet game content vendors and suppliers of support services including e-wallets, identity verification and geolocation.
Pennsylvania Rep. sets out egaming plans
Pennsylvania is set to join Iowa, Massachusetts and Mississippi in introducing an online gambling bill this year after state Representative Tina Davis filed a memo setting out plans to regulate the industry.
Davis confirmed that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board would regulate requirements for the licensing, operation of, and responsible participation in internet gaming “to ensure that this form of gaming is within the regulatory framework we have fought to establish” in the state.
High licensing fees threaten “fully liberalised” Hungarian market
High one-off licensing fees within Hungary’s latest Gambling Act “threatens the creation of a fully liberalised online gambling market”, industry lobby group the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) has warned.
The Hungarian government has submitted an amendment of its 1991 Gambling Act to the European Commission proposing a gross profits tax (GPT) of 20% for licensed operators. Despite the RGA, and the industry as a whole, favouring GPT as the most workable form of taxation and the lobby group stating it is “encouraged by its presence within the legislation” it has expressed concerns over costly licence fees.
Enteraction and Alderney Gambling become latest SGA members
The Social Gaming Association (SGA) has announced its two latest members, with social platform provider Enteraction becoming an accredited member, and Alderney Gambling, the business development division of the Alderney Government, becoming a governmental member.
Alderney Gambling acts as an advisor to the jurisdiction’s egaming regulatory body the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, and SGA director Stuart Tilly commented that he was “very encouraged” that the organisation was looking to gain a stronger understanding of the social gaming sector.