F E A T U R E FA L L I N G I N T O L I N E
denying one to Betfair as being in Spel has openly disputed the need for breach of transparency legislation. regulation, despite the fact that it would That progress may have been allow the company to expand its product stunted by the Supreme Court’s offering, which it has long lobbied the “LEGISLATION IS UNLIKELY decision this year to uphold a case from government for the right to do. TO BE INTRODUCED IN ANY monopoly operator De Lotto against In November last year there were Ladbrokes, which argued the ban on hopes that the Swedish government FORM BEFORE THE END OF THE offshore operators did not constitute would ?nally respond to operators’ calls CURRENT PARLIAMENTARY a breach of EU free trade agreements. for regulation to be introduced, although With such disputes continuing to hog when state secretary for the Ministry of TERM IN 2014” the headlines, the proposed twofold Finance Johanna Lybeck Lilja spoke at process of overturning such a ban the Spelmarknadsansvaret (conference MP Gustaf Hoffstedt, followed by the issuing of licences still on gambling and social responsibility) centre-right pro-egaming Nya appears to be some way off. that same month she admitted the Moderaterna party The Belgian Gaming Commission government was more likely to “come (BGC) meanwhile has been bullish back to” the issue rather than address it in its pursuit of those operators at the time, citing social responsibility that continue to serve the country’s and player protection issues for the citizens without a licence, introducing a blacklist which delay. As a result, MP Gustaf Hoffstedt of the centre-right already includes high-pro?le names such as bet365, bwin pro-egaming Nya Moderaterna party explained to eGaming and Winamax. Review that legislation was unlikely to be introduced in any form before the end of the current parliamentary term in 2014, and most likely to be introduced during the following period. However, an investigation by the country’s National Audit Office (Riskrevisionen) into the prevalence of problem gambling in Sweden now looks set to force parliament’s hand. The report criticised the lack of regulation as offering no protection to players susceptible to problem gambling, and called on Svenska Spel to “do more” to prevent it, and “set a standard” for private operators in the sector. The report and the allegations the government faces over being irresponsible towards some of its citizens, appear to have stung Peter Norman, minister for the ?nancial markets, into pledging action, announcing that a bill would come before the country’s next general election in 2014. Norman has not revealed whether legislation will open up the market A D U LT to private operators or simply put more controls in place to POPULATION uphold Svenska Spel’s lottery status, but a licensing system would allow the majority of operators to continue operating in the market without much disruption. How much will None so far. Peter Norman, hinge on Svenska Spel’s reaction to legislation. PRODUCTS minister for ?nancial ALLOWED/ markets, pledged action BANNED:
SWEDEN
9m
GPT
BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS
Plans for Dutch egaming regulation ?rst surfaced in October 2010, more than a year before neighbouring Belgium outlined its plans for issuing licences, but the latter has made far more progress in the intervening period. Indeed, authorities in the Netherlands have gone as far as ordering offshore operators to block Dutch players from accessing their sites. Still, while yet to fully come into force, it has been thought that a Dutch regulatory model might mimic those of France and Italy as far as taxation is concerned. However, as of the start of 2011 the only legal form of egaming took place through De Lotto and Sportech Racing (formerly Scienti?c Games Racing). Since then Betfair won a legal case dating back seven years, ruling the existing licensing process noncompliant with EU law and thus deeming the decisions to award licences to De Lotto and Sportech Racing while TAX MODEL:
with an egaming bill expected by the next general election in 2014.
15% €56.1m
35
ESTIMATED TAX TAKE FIRST FULL YEAR OF REGULATION:
(SOURCE: H2)
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