Regulation round-up 10 March 2015
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (4 March to 10 March 2015)
Apple pulls gambling apps from Swedish App Store
Apps from a dozen operators including William Hill, Betsson and Unibet removed by Apple due to internal concerns of promoting products from unlicensed gambling operators
Apple has removed gambling apps belonging to a dozen major egaming firms from its Sweden-facing App Store after a letter from the regulator highlighted the possibility of terms and conditions violations due to “unlicensed” operators.
The Swedish Gambling Authority (Lotteriinspektionen) sent Apple what it described as an “informative letter” the week commencing 16 February and apps from major operators including William Hill, Betfair, bet365 and Unibet have since been removed.
A spokesperson for the regulator confirmed the letter had been sent but was keen to stress that no formal complaint had been made and that the decision to pull the apps was entirely Apple’s.
“The letter was sent to try and verify the terms and conditions and from that they have moved in the direction they chose,” the spokesperson said. “We have no legal proceedings with Apple whatsoever but it’s in line with the Swedish regulation as we currently see it,” the spokesperson added.
Ireland online tax bill clears final hurdle
Ireland’s online betting tax, which is expected to hit the industry for 25m, will come into force later this year after the much delayed legislative bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdle last week.
The Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 has now been sent to the president to be signed into law and once finalised will clear the path for the introduction of 1% a turnover tax, mirroring the rate currently levied in Ireland’s in high-street betting shops.
The final stage before implementation will be for operators to apply for an operating licence from Ireland’s authorities, a process which is expected to be concluded by the end of the summer.
Seven days in regulation:
Greyhound chief calls for betting right extension
The funding of greyhound racing in the UK has reached a “critical level” and should be included in any plans for a betting right, according to Greyhound Board of Great Britain chief executive Barry Faulkner.
His comments come during an ongoing Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) consultation over the introduction of a betting right, aimed at providing a long-term funding solution for the horseracing industry and replacing the current Racing Levy system.
The DCMS recently described the relationship between betting and the horseracing industry as “unique” and, as such, said it would not consider extending the racing right into other sports.
A new bill that would legalise online poker in Pennsylvania has been introduced by Representative Nick Miccarelli to the House Committee on Gaming Oversight.
It is the second bill to be tabled in as many weeks after chairman of the Gaming Oversight Committee Rep. John Payne introduced legislation seeking to legalize online poker and casino games in the state last week.
The bill, HB 695, would award interactive poker licenses to the state’s land-based gaming operators, with fees set at $5m and $50,000 for “significant vendors” such as platform and technology providers.
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have introduced a resolution urging Congress to defeat a bill which effectively seeks to restore the Wire Act and ban most forms of internet gaming in the US.
The resolution, which has the backing of more than 10 state legislators, also calls for Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation to oppose the bill.
The bill, numbered HR 717 and also known as the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, seeks to ban egaming in the US and was introduced by Congressman Jason Chaffetz last month.