Regulation round-up 9 April 2013
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (3 April to 9 April 2013).
Holland Casino pulls egaming RFP
Tender process to find single supplier of online services launched in February is withdrawn.
Dutch gambling monopoly Holland Casino has discontinued the tender process to select its online gaming supplier.
Holland Casino has released a new tender document to select its online gaming supplier after confirming the previous RFP was pulled because no bidders met the required criteria.
The Dutch gambling monopoly had discontinued the tender process it launched in Februarywithout warning, putting in doubt its plans to award the contract in June.
The new RFP document was sent to applicants this week and closes on 25 April. A 5 June deadline for final selection remains.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Poll results: Readers split on Danish model for monopolies
eGaming Review readers remain divided as to whether the Danish market is the blueprint that proves monopolies can sustain their business in a liberalised market, despite Danske Spil’s strong financial performance in the first full year under dot.dk regulation.
With more than DKK2bn (£230m) in revenue generated by licensees in the full-year 2012, and with Danske Spil posting a 13.8% growth in profits during the same period, 41% of respondents believe the Danish Gambling Authority has succeeded in allowing all operators a fair chance to compete. The DGA has also claimed that illegal operators have a hold of less than 5% of the egaming market, thanks in part to a ‘whistleblower’ service allowing users to report illegal sites, as well as 12 unlicensed sites being blocked in June.
AAMS to establish problem gambling observatory
Italian regulatory authority L’Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato (AAMS) has announced the establishment of an observatory to address concerns over problem gambling.
Chaired by Luigi Magistro, deputy director of the Italian Customs Authority – which was merged with AAMS last December – the body will include representatives from various government ministries as well as government-appointed experts.
Also involved is Giovanni Serpelloni, the scientific head of the Italian Council of Ministers’ anti-drug policies, and he spoke of a need to scientifically address the “disease” of pathological gambling in the absence of clear figures on the extent of the problem.
HoGaming receives Italian live casino licence
Asian live casino supplier HoGaming has been approved by the Italian regulatory authority AAMS to provide live casino software to operators in the market.
The company can now offer its full suite of live dealer roulette, blackjack and baccarat studios, broadcast from its Estonia studio, which opened in September last year. It will also offer a localised solution for customers with a land-based presence to stream games directly from their venues using existing croupiers.