Regulation round-up 6 January 2015
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days
Ladbrokes withdraws from Russia as part of latest grey market cull
Operator also exits from three additional European countries following what it describes as recent regulatory changes
Ladbrokes ceased accepting traffic from a number of countries including Russia and three other European nations on 1 January following regulatory advice over “recent changes in legislation”.
The bookmaker confirmed it was no longer able to accept traffic from Russia, Romania, Portugal and Finland owing to “recent changes in legislation”, adding them to a list of excluded countries that now totals 68 separate jurisdictions.
Speaking to eGaming Review a Ladbrokes spokesperson said the withdrawals were routine and based on “local advice and conditions on the ground”, while also adding that the markets were not material contributors of revenue for the firm.
Last month, the Russian government signed-in a raft of new measures aimed at tackling unlawful online gambling, such as handing the country’s telecommunications state authority power to block websites without prior court order.
William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power have all added prominent warnings to their advertising materials as part of an ongoing effort to promote socially responsible gambling.
The “WHEN THE FUN STOPS, STOP” campaign was launched on 1 January by independent gambling body the Senet Group, which all four firms are members of, and aims to promote socially responsible gambling and highlight the potential risks associated with gambling.
All TV advertising by Senet Group member companies now carry a prominent message about responsible gambling and appears online, in their shop windows, in press advertisements and other forms of advertising, making it the most visible warning yet to be carried by the industry.
Later this month, the Senet Group will launch a broader campaign to promote responsible gambling, including a major TV and radio advertising campaign.
Seven days in regulation:
The Romanian government has approved a number of amendments to the country’s gambling laws as the authorities move to legalise online gambling activities.
The government passed an emergency ordinance last month with amendments including protection for minors and gambling addicts, new taxation rules and fraud prevention guidance.
“Through this ordinance, the government has managed to regulate the online gambling sector, which was regulated in 2010, but not completely,” president of Romania’s National Office for Gambling, Odette Nestor, said.
“We now have a legal framework that allows gambling operators to get licensed in Romania and, through this licensing, we will protect minors and Romanian players,” he added.
Russia has toughened its stance on online gambling after handing the state authority for telecommunications the ability to block websites without a court order while it also introduced criminal liability for companies which violate gambling regulation.
As of 22 December 2014, Roskomnadzor is authorised to restrict access to websites without a respective court decision, meaning websites containing gambling material will be blocked unless such materials are removed from the website.
The introduction of criminal liability could also see operators that fail to comply with Russia’s strict gambling laws hit with either a fine of RUB 500,000 or three years’ worth of Russia-derived income, or a custodial sentence of up to two years.
Nevada internet poker revenues slumped to a new record low in November, according to the latest figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Revenues for the period fell 3.6% from a previous low of US$665,000 in October to $641,000 in November, taking total gross gaming revenue from online poker from February 2014 to just over $16m.
The results were the final set to include revenues from Ultimate Gaming, which announced it had shut up shop in November with just Caesars’ WSOP.com brand and Real Gaming now live in the state.
Internet gaming revenues rebounded 42% in Delaware in November with the state completing its first year of regulated online gaming some way behind analyst predictions.
Total net revenue for the period was $184,898, the third highest since Delaware opened its digital doors to online gaming in November 2013.
The latest results take total revenues year to date to $1.7m, way below even the lowest pre-launch market estimates.