Industry News - April 2008

Online Bookmakers Take First Round In Tennis Trial

30/04/2008: Three of Europe’s major online gambling companies have overcome the first stage of a legal challenge from the organizers of the French Open tennis championships who had accused them of violating their rights by offering bets on Roland Garros matches. The unambiguous verdict will give heart to the operators who face another hearing in Paris next month.

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Bwin Clashes With Portuguese Government In ECJ Dispute

30/04/2008: At yesterday’s public ECJ Grand Chamber hearing on Bwin’s and the Portuguese Football League’s challenge to the gambling monopoly held by Portugal’s Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the two parties clashed over whether Portugal’s restrictive gambling policy could be justified by the public order interests cited by the Portuguese government. But whilst it was only Portugal’s gambling policy under scrutiny in Luxembourg yesterday, it became clear the high-profile case has attracted the attention of various EU Member States.

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Holland Casino Hopeful of Re-Igniting Online Bill

28/04/2008: Visitor numbers are up, but spend per customer is down; times are clearly getting tougher for Dutch monopoly operator Holland Casino. It is therefore unsurprising the company is looking to diversify income, whether through more entertainment at its casinos or having another crack at getting online legislation included in a new gambling bill due in the summer.

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CEO’s Resignation Spels New Direction For Svenska

22/04/2008: Svenska Spel’s Jesper Kärrbrink announced yesterday that he is to step down from his role as CEO of the company. The announcement comes less than three weeks after the appointment of a new chair to the Svenska Spel board, and furthers speculation that the state-owned gaming operator is likely to witness a restriction in its room to manoeuvre in the Swedish market over the coming months.

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Austrian Court Ruling Undercuts Monopoly Claims

18/04/2008: A court ruling in Austria has turned up the heat for reform of legislation banning online gaming in that country, but action by the European Commission may still be needed to bring about amendment of the current monopoly gambling regime.

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Tounge-Tied Swedes Obscure Svenska Spel’s Future

11/04/2008: Ministerial rhetoric on reshaping gambling monopoly Svenska Spel into a more socially responsible operator has evidently not been communicated to Brussels, as time runs out for Sweden to answer EU’s concerns. The appointment of a new chairman for the operator, widely regarded as unsuitable for the role, has also raised questions about government indecision.

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UK’s Proportionate Compliance Regime Ensures Fair Deal For Operators, Says Gambling Commission

11/04/2008: Ahead of an announced public consultation on operating licence conditions in the UK, the Gambling Commission’s director of monitoring and enforcement presents his view of the gambling industry’s record of compliance with the 2005 Gambling Act so far, and outlines the Commission’s approach to regulation.

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France Preparing For Gambling Rethink

09/04/2008: Budget Minister Eric Woerth has told the French press that he will advise President Sarkozy to proceed with a ‘controlled opening’ of France’s online gambling market to private operators. Whilst questions surrounding online casino games, betting on sports events and the existing pari-mutuel horserace betting system have yet to be answered by officials, observers believe that the French government is keen to formulate a clear course of action before the summer.

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German Online Casino Looks To Loophole In Internet Gambling Ban

08/04/2008: A Casinos Austria-owned online casino will soon begin to offer its games to residents in the German state of Lower Saxony following a court victory last week, despite the general prohibition on internet gambling in Germany under the Interstate Treaty which came into force in January 2008. The Treaty’s draconian provisions may mean the internet casino is short-lived, but its very existence could further undermine the already maligned Treaty, say legal experts.

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Private Operators Gather Momentum In Sweden

08/04/2008: Fallout from a recent Supreme Court decision could mean the time is now ripe for private betting operators to strike marketing deals in Sweden and position themselves ahead of a possible liberalization of the market after 2010, predicted a leading Swedish lawyer last week. With all prosecutions of gaming advertising now on hold due to the legal doubts raised by the Court, the question is whether any remote operators will test the authorities’ resolve by introducing terrestrial betting outlets in the country.

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