Nouvelles de l'industrie - Octobre 2007

AAMS Sheds Monopoly Moniker And Shuffles Staff

31/10/2007: The Italian gaming regulator, AAMS (Agenzia Autonoma Monopolio di Stato) is heading for a change of name, a change of personnel and a total restructuring according to information announced by the Economy Ministry in the last few days. The government has also indicated that it will be inviting tenders from external consultants to assist with the restructuring.

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Ruling Party Votes To End Swedish Gambling Monopoly

30/10/2007: Moderate Party members voted at their congress last weekend in favour of a proposal to liberalise the country’s gambling market but the Swedish Government still advocates taking a more cautious approach towards regulation.

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Unibet CEO Facing Extradition To France

25/10/2007: Unibet’s CEO Petter Nylander yesterday failed to convince a Dutch magistrate’s court that he should be released. As a consequence he has agreed to remain without his passport at a hotel in Amsterdam pending extradition to France to face charges, a process which is not likely to happen until next week.

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Handball’s Gambling Sponsorship Threatened By Danish Opposition

24/10/2007: Following threats of legal action by the Danish Gaming Board, the European Handball Federation (EHF) last week agreed to allow two professional handball teams in Denmark to remove advertising by its sponsorship partner Interwetten.com during Champions League matches played in the country.

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France Swoops On Unibet CEO

23/10/2007: Petter Nylander, the CEO of London-based online gaming company Unibet, was detained yesterday by Dutch authorities after checking on to a flight to return to his home in the UK. According to Unibet, the arrest took place following the issuance of a warrant by French authorities.

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Schleswig-Holstein Backpedals As German Treaty Nears Adoption

23/10/2007: State parliaments across Germany look ready to approve the adoption of a controversial treaty that will bolster the states’ lottery and betting monopolies, despite opposition from groups within Germany and the European Commission. The move will effectively bury online gambling in Europe’s biggest economy.

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Italian Remote Licensing Fees Under Review

22/10/2007: One of the Italian parliament’s periodic budget review sessions, beginning this month, holds the potential to amend the controversial article 40 of last year’s Fiscal Decree. The changes, if approved, would finally bring Italian online licensing completely into line with European law.

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France’s Government Sounds Call For Betting Reforms

18/10/2007: A betting revolution could at last be on the cards in France. Yesterday in Paris a watershed conference, supported by several government ministers, gave the first clear indications of French government thinking on reform for the sector.

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De Lotto Takes Aim At Unibet Over Amateur Football Betting

16/10/2007: The Dutch monopoly operator De Lotto says it has secured a court verdict last week against European online operator Unibet, following Unibet’s decision to offer betting on amateur football in Holland. However, the Wimbledon-based operator says it has no knowledge of the ruling.

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Unibet’s Bad Beat in Båstad

11/10/2007: With Sweden’s apparent crackdown on poker intensifying, representatives of Unibet and the Gothenburg based company PR Events are facing renewed charges of organizing illegal gaming, following the Swedish Open poker tournament held in Båstad last summer.

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