Industry News - January 2009

Dutch Payment Ban Heading For Enforcement

30/01/2009: As part of a sweeping report on the Dutch gambling sector, Holland’s minister for justice Ernst Hirsch Ballin has told MPs that a ‘black list’ of illegal gambling websites will be circulated to Dutch banks by March, bringing into effect a ban on the processing of internet gambling payments in the country ahead of a possible wider shakeup of Holland’s gambling regime later this year.

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MEP’s Online Gambling Report Draws 149 Amendments

26/01/2009: A controversial own-initiative report by Danish MEP Christel Schaldemose on the integrity of online gambling has attracted a raft of changes from political interests across the European gambling world, setting the scene for a lively debate when the bill is discussed next month.

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Dutch Internet Gamblers In Showdown With Tax Authorities

22/01/2009: Dutch gamblers are awaiting clarification of local gambling tax rules, having been asked to divulge details of gambling winnings on their December tax returns in accordance with new guidance from the tax authorities which indicated that winnings on foreign-based gambling websites could be taxable in Holland.

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Dutch Internet Gamblers In Showdown With Tax Authorities

22/01/2009: Dutch gamblers are awaiting clarification of local gambling tax rules, having been asked to divulge details of gambling winnings on their December tax returns in accordance with new guidance from the tax authorities which indicated that winnings on foreign-based gambling websites could be taxable in Holland.

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Italian Authorities Prepare For Stinging EU Fines

21/01/2009: Italian authorities are said to be bracing themselves for significant fines from the EU following their decision to withdraw and modify their plans for new betting shop licences, as required by a previous European court ruling over disputed horseracing licences.

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Stanleybet To Reopen Athens Betting Outlet Ahead Of Court Hearing

16/01/2009: Stanleybet International said it intends to reopen the Athens betting outlet closed down by municipal authorities last year within the next few days after an Athens court yesterday decided the bookmaker was entitled to continue its operations ahead of a court hearing due to take place later this month.

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Italian Slots Sector Hit By New Year Tax Increases

14/01/2009: Taxes on gaming machine turnover were increased by 1.4 percent under new laws passed at the end of 2008, although lobbying efforts from the sector have since been successful in reducing the applicable tax rate under legislation aimed at assisting Italian businesses during the current economic downturn.

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French Casino Sector Boosted By Poker Decree

14/01/2009: France’s ministry of home affairs has authorised French casino operators to organise Texas Hold’em poker tournaments outside of their casino venues for the first time under a new decree signed just before Christmas. Poker games had been restricted to inside casinos under a law from 2007.

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Germany’s Euro Lottery ‘Targeting October Launch’

14/01/2009: Private companies now altogether excluded from the German lottery market under new laws that took effect this month have leapt to criticize Germany’s state-run lottery operators over their reported plans to launch a pan-European game to rival the EuroMillions lottery before the end of the year.

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Spanish Opposition Urges Government Action On Internet Gambling

13/01/2009: Popular Party MPs have introduced a congressional resolution urging Spain’s ruling Socialist government to introduce legislation to regulate internet gambling activities before Easter, according to the Spanish press. However, observers believe the regulatory process is likely to be delayed due to broader economic and political concerns.

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