Serbian gaming association favours IP blocking
JAKATA announces support for ISP blocking but admits it is only a short-term solution as country looks to develop a regulated market.
The Serbian association of operators, technicians and games manufacturers JAKATA has spoken out in favour of its gaming board’s attempts to have internet service providers (ISP) block a total of 70 European operators.
The Serbian Gaming Board, with the support of the Ministry of Finance, yesterday ordered ISPs to prevent Serbian players from accessing up to 70 sites, including the likes of bwin, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Unibet and Betfair.
However this has been criticised by Rodoljub Sabic, the commissioner for information of public importance and personal data protection, who claimed ISP blocking amounts to censorship, which is banned under the terms of the coutry’s constitution.
JAKATA president Mirjana Acimovic, despite suggesting that ISP blocking was not a long-term solution, said that her organisation would give “100% support” to the Ministry of Finance as it looks to develop a regulated market in the country.
“This is just the first step in implementing new gambling act and one of the measures which will make Serbian gaming environment regulate and favorable to serious internet and remote gambling providers as well as land-based operators,” she said.
“We are all aware that blocking sites does not yield many results, but this is a clear sign that Serbia is willing to implement all European experience and good practice in near future and it is sending loud message to legitimate businesses,” Acimovic added.
“[“¦] Serbia was very vulnerable toward illegitimate on-line operating and it was very frustrating to witness many illegitimate sites which offered different games to Serbian players who were not protected in any way during participation in these games,” she added.
Legislation was passed last year to offer favorable terms to egaming operators, with a 5% tax on gross gaming yield and 10-year operating licences.
Sigrid Ligne, secretary general of operators’ association EGBA, which counts a number of the blocked operators among its members, described ISP blocking as an inefficient and costly measure, adding that it is ineffective in driving players to approved offerings.
“There is ample evidence today that ISP blocking is not an effective method of channeling players towards regulated sites; the only efficient way to eradicate a black market is to ensure that online gambling regulations are adapted to the internet, that they meet consumer demand and allow regulated websites to remain attractive and competitive in a global market,” Ligne added.