Nouvelles de l'industrie

French Prime Minister’s Report Proposes Rigid Gambling Regime

08/05/2008: An official report prepared for France’s Prime Minister François Fillon suggests that any ‘controlled opening’ of France’s online gambling market must be accompanied by tough restrictions to shore up the new regime. The report recommends the government explore whether bans on payments and advertising for unauthorized sites, originally included in last year’s Delinquency Law, could be squared with EU law under a more open licensing system - from which betting exchanges, spread betting and certain types of online casinos games seem likely to nevertheless be excluded.

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British Peers Denounce French Gambling Laws

07/05/2008: A French law that defends its “state monopoly on gambling” and puts gamblers on a par with child pornographers was yesterday denounced by the British Government yesterday as “atrocious.” The criticism comes as France prepares to respond to sustained EC pressure over its gambling laws.

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Member States Resist ECJ Probe Into Gambling Law ‘Consistency’

02/05/2008: Upon the judges’ specific invitation, participants at this week’s public European Court of Justice hearing on Bwin and the Portuguese Football League’s challenge to the betting monopoly held by Portugal’s Santa Casa agreed that EU Member States must be consistent in their application of restrictive gambling policies. However, representatives from all but Bwin were adamant that the critical ‘consistency requirement’ must be applied as narrowly as possibly, and not across sub-sectors of the gambling industry.

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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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ESSA Embraces Player Blocking Technology

07/04/2008: The European Sports Security Association (ESSA) is poised to roll out a new software solution which, in conjunction with databases from partner sporting bodies, would make it possible to prevent athletes from betting on their own sports. The innovation is part of a new push by the organisation, which comprises 12 online betting companies, in its effort to become the world’s main body for ensuring the integrity of sports betting.

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European Internal Markets tzar Charlie McCreevy is said to be upping the pressure on the Italian government to resolve the issue of the 329 horseracing betting licences that were extended in 2000, rather than being put to tender, in the country’s first bi

04/04/2008: European Internal Markets tzar Charlie McCreevy is said to be upping the pressure on the Italian government to resolve the issue of the 329 horseracing betting licences that were extended in 2000, rather than being put to tender, in the country’s first bidding process. Suggestions of substantial court-imposed fines are likely to galvanise activity in the Italian government.

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Dutch Lawmakers KO Remote Gambling Bill

02/04/2008: The Dutch Senate yesterday voted down proposals that would have granted the state-run operator Holland Casinos a three-year exclusive license to operate internet gaming in the Netherlands. The proposal was rejected by a narrow margin, but the outcome nevertheless sparked celebration among private gambling operators.

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Norway Acknowledges Legal Hurdles Facing Payment Ban

28/03/2008: Norway’s plans to introduce a US-style ban on payments processing for internet gambling transactions will end up in the courts, should it go ahead, one of its senior legal advisors has predicted. The proposed ban, which widens the Norwegian definition of the offence of ‘mediating’ bets, has already attracted widespread concern.

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UK Licence Fees Rise Under New DCMS Proposals

14/03/2008: The Gambling Commission and Department of Culture, Media and Sport have produced their promised consultation document on the review and adjustment of licensing fees for UK gambling businesses. Operators aggrieved at the current system are expected to carefully study these latest proposals - which broadly maintain the existing charging structure but introduce a shake-up of casino licence fees - and should take advantage of the opportunity to have their say.

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