Regulation round-up 22 January 2013
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (16 January to 22 January 2013).
Exclusive: Operators prepare to hand back Spanish licences
Companies have quickly become disillusioned with little or no liquidity on poker networks.
A number of poker operators are set to hand back their Spanish online poker licences just six months after entering the market, eGaming Reviewhas learned.
According to sources, a number of operators sitting on Ongame and Microgaming’s local poker networks including Malta-licensed sports betting site Goalwin have consulted with lawyers in order to instigate the process of rescinding their Spanish licences and will do so “within the next few months”.
Goalwin, along with Finnish operator Paf, make up the Ongame network, while local land-based gambling group Cirsa, Betsson’s Gunnersgaming brand, Ladbrokes’ Spanish brand LBapuestas and Belgium’s Win2Day form part of Microgaming’s network.
Paf’s head of poker, Herbert Paradis, admitted it is “constantly evaluating” its strategy but claimed it was not considering exiting the market despite attracting little or no liquidity on its Spanish-facing poker offering.
UK government requests ongoing Gambling Commission-regulator consultation
The UK government has called on the Gambling Commission to continue regular consultations with regulatory bodies and egaming operators, as part of a detailed response to last year’s Select Committee report into gambling.
The government confirmed that the existing White List for approved jurisdictions will be phased out on the basis that “The Commission’s focus under the remote reforms will be on the suitability of operators, not jurisdictions.”
The DCMS response notes Committee recommendations that: “The Commission should approve certain overseas regulators and continue to monitor their performance where they meet its requirements…[and]… also test whether regulators it has not yet approved carry out sufficient licensing checks,” and states “The proposed licensing requirement will provide an important safeguard that would allow the Commission to intervene directly where problems occur which are not sufficiently dealt with by other regulators.”
In its response, however, the government is keen to stress that “We are clear that the proposals will not duplicate the work of other regulators or unnecessarily increase burdens imposed on operators.”
ARJEL president keen on pooled poker liquidity
ARJEL president Jean-François Vilotte has confirmed that the French regulatory authority is open to the possibility of pooling liquidity with other jurisdictions, after demand for a dot.fr online poker market has failed to “explode” as hoped.
Last week’s full-year market figures showed amounts staked in cash poker games down by 5.4% year-on-year (based on like-for-like comparatives), while nine poker licensees handed back their licences over the course of 2012.
Among those to leave the market include 888 and TitanPoker, with the latter also surrendering its sports betting licence in the jurisdiction.
Vilotte said: “Especially for poker, the question of the attractiveness of the offer must be monitored. It is a matter of concern.”
Seven days in regulation:
Italian operators prepare for bingo product changes
Italian gaming operators will be able to launch a more flexible bingo offering akin to their dot.com counterparts as soon as this summer,eGaming Review understands, with a consultation period on the matter due to come to a close on 22 February.
The consultation period will enable operators to file comments and questions on proposals which allow for independent testing of RNGs and seem set to bring dot.it bingo more in line with many licensees’ offerings in other markets. Dot.it bingo operators can currently only offer 90-ball bingo, while new regulations would allow them to operate all bingo variants offered on dot.com sites as well as give them increased flexibility over the types of jackpots available.
Giulio Coraggio, lawyer with DLA Piper, has suggested “It is likely that operators will be able to launch the new bingo before the summer 2013.”
Nevada Governor calls for interstate poker
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has called on the state legislature to pass laws allowing online poker operators to accept bets from other states “within 30 days”.
As part of yesterday’s annual State of the State address, Sandoval argued that with no sign of federal internet poker legislation being introduced in the near future, after Senator Harry Reid failed to introduce a bill in December, Nevada should take matters in its own hands and continue to drive US online gambling regulation forward.
The Democrat’s comments come after the state’s Gaming Control Board submitted a draft Assembly Bill 5 to the legislature last month proposing the legalisation of interstate online poker wagers from other states which have regulated egaming.
Gambling Commission calls for social self-regulation
Chairman of the UK Gambling Commission Philip Graf has called on the social casino sector to introduce self-regulation while reiterating the body’s opinion that no formal legislation is required.
Speaking at conference held at London’s City Hall last week, Graf explained that the Commission has “no desire to widen [its] regulatory scope unless necessary, but we must continue to assess the nature and size of these risks.”
The Commission highlighted two main risks from social casino, explaining that it may act as a ‘gateway drug’ which develops problem gambling characteristics in underage players or vulnerable people; and that consumers could be put at risk of being exploited by rigged games, or unscrupulous or incompetent operators.
Belgium issues new sports betting licences
Napoleon Games has received approval from the Belgian Gaming Commission to offer online sports betting alongside its games offering, a spokesman from the BGC confirmed to eGaming Review.
The brand, operated by Mystery Games, agreed a deal with Unibet subsidiary Kambi in October to launch a mobile and online sportsbook offering for the Belgian market.
Austrian court deems lottery tender constitutional
Austria’s Constitutional Court has rejected complaints by three private operators over the tender process for the awarding of the country’s lottery licence to Ãsterreichische Lotterien GmbH, saying it did not contravene the country’s constitution.
The 15-year licence was originally awarded to Ãsterreichische Lotterien, a subsidiary of Casinos Austria AG, in October 2011 by the Austrian Ministry of Finance, only for the decision to be contested by three other applicants including Betclic Everest brand bet-at-home, SMS game provider Lotelo and Malta-based Bandal.