Regulation round-up 19 May 2015
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (13 May to 19 May 2015)
Apple reinstalls Sweden-facing gambling apps
Apps from PokerStars and Unibet believed to be the first to be re-instated, others expected to go live in the coming weeks
Apple has started re-installing the gambling apps that were previously removed from its Sweden-facing App store after the Swedish Gambling Authority (Lotteriinspektionen) dropped its case questioning the legality of the apps last month.
eGaming Review understands that apps from PokerStars and Unibet are the first to be re-instated by the US technology giant, with others expected to go live again in the coming weeks.
In February Apple removed approximately 40 gambling apps from more than a dozen operators after a letter sent by the regulator cited a possible breach of terms and conditions due to the unlicensed and potentially “illegal” status of operators.
General secretary of the Association of Online Gambling Operators in Sweden (BOS), Gustaf Hoffstedt said he was “very pleased” with the developments after previously criticising the regulator’s role in Apple’s decision to remove the apps.
German court slams licensing process
A ruling from the Administrative Court of Wiesbaden could spell the end of Germany’s troubled licensing process after the court heavily criticised the selection process.
Details of the 5 May ruling were released on Monday, and reveal that the court believes the procedure to select prospective sports betting licensees violates existing laws, is not transparent enough and restricts operators’ freedom to provide services.
“It essentially means that no licenses will be issued in the near future,” Martin Arendts, a leading German gaming lawyer, told eGaming Review. “The whole procedure has to be restart otherwise it isn’t going to work.”
Seven days in regulation:
Dutch land-based operators lodge complaint against online tax rate
The European Amusement and Gaming Federation (EUROMAT) has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission against proposed differentiated tax rates between land-based and online operators in the Dutch Remote Gaming Bill.
The land-based gaming trade association said it would “take a stand” against the upcoming legislation which it claims violates EU law and constitutes state aid as online operators are taxed at a lower rate.
Under current proposals online gambling companies operating in the regulated Dutch market will be subject to a 20% tax rate compared to the 29% currently paid by land-based gaming establishments.
666BET sets player withdrawal deadline
Beleaguered operator 666BET and its owner Metro Play have warned customers they will not be processing any further customer withdrawals beyond 24 May as a number of players continue to wait for funds to be returned.
In a statement last week, published on its behalf by the British Gambling Commission, Metro Play said access to its 666BET and Metro Play sites will be switched off in less than two weeks’ time, which will then leave customers unable to request the return of any monies held on account.
Metro Play said customers’ withdrawal requests were being processed after the suspended operator called upon Skrill to help return funds following the termination of previous third-party agreements.
Spanish regulator to award new licences by next month
The Spanish regulator, La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), has confirmed that legislation legalising and regulating online slots and exchange betting will come into force on 27 May.
The regulator also said that once the legislation became law, it would inform applicants whether they would receive their general and singular licenses by 2 June.
Betclic Everest and Net Ent are among the 12 firms that applied to enter the Spanish market after the regulator re-opened its licensing window back in November last year.
Danish regulation amendments given European green light
A series of amendments to Denmark’s online gambling legislation has been passed by the European Commission, with a number of changes expected to be implemented by the end of the year.
The amendments include an increase in licensing costs for companies which generate revenues of more than KR100m (£9.6m) a year, and a decrease for those who generate less.
State-owned Danske Spil likely to be the worst hit by the change to the cost structure, although the majority of other operators licensed in Denmark should see a decrease in their licensing costs.
Mansion Group obtains GB licence
Casino.com operator Mansion Europe Holdings is expected to ramp up marketing for its online casino brands in the UK following the receipt of a remote gaming licence by the British regulator with the firm also plotting an Italian launch in the next few months.
The new licence from Great Britain’s Gambling Commission will allow the company to offer its five online casino brands – Casino.com; Club777.com, LesACasino.com; MansionCasino.com and SlotsHeaven.com – to the British market.
The news follows a decision made by the Gibraltar-based company last year to close its UK-facing online poker business in the wake of the country’s new Point of Consumption (PoC) which came into force in December.