WEBMASTER NEWS
UK GOVERNMENT TO CONSULT ON
EUROMILLIONS BETTING LOOPHOLE
THE UK GOVERNMENT has announced
that it is to consult with stakeholders over
a loophole that allows gambling websites
to offer cut-price betting options on the
EuroMillions.
The current set-up allows punters to
place bets on the outcome of the draw, even
though the UK’s Gambling Act prohibits
betting on National Lottery games at a
cheaper price than buying a ticket.
Websites are able to bypass the law by
offering UK-based punters the option to
bet on the outcome of the draw in other
European Union countries where the
EuroMillions is played. The draw result is
the same for the UK as all countries that
partake.
However, critics have argued that the £2
cost of placing a bet, lower than the ticket
price of £2.50 a line, takes money away
from Good Causes, and the government
will now take action to close the loophole.
Lotteries Minister Tracey Crouch said:
“We want to act to ensure that money
going to Good Causes is protected and
that there is no confusion around the
EuroMillions draw, providing the same
levels of clarity as there is with the
National Lottery.”
In response to the news, Nigel Birrell,
chief executive of Lottoland, one of the
websites that offers the betting service
to punters, said that his company would
“welcome the opportunity” to be involved
with the consultation over the new laws.
However, Birrell also said that the time
has come for a “general discussion about
the justification of the monopoly”, and
added that monopolies ”hinder innovation
and progress”, and this in turn impacts the
consumer.
He also warned that lottery operators
must work to update their products and
services in order that lottery games remain
relevant across the market.
Birrell told iGaming Business: “The
EuroMillions price increase was the final
straw for the consumer; the retail decline,
lack of innovation and a greedy monopoly
is causing the haemorrhaging here.
Moreover, people want to win big jackpots
not small raffle prizes."
In response, Camelot’s head of policy
and regulatory affairs, Daniel Dyball, told
iGaming Business in a statement that:
“Our overarching objective is to raise as
much money as possible for Good Causes,
and we've long argued that bet-on-lottery
firms are circumventing the legislation
and causing player confusion by offering
bets on EuroMillions – with Good Causes
missing out.”
AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS POINT-OF-
CONSUMPTION ONLINE BETTING TAX
AUSTRALIA’S FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT has revealed plans for a
point-of-consumption tax (POC) on online
gambling.
On 24 March, Federal Treasurer Scott
Morrison spoke with officials from states
and territories across the country about the
matter ahead of the 2017 budget.
Speaking to the Australian media,
Morrison said an agreement had been
reached to “move forward to prepare
a proposal for a nationally consistent
approach to point of consumption tax on
online gaming”.
However, Morrison said that such a
move would not be “about raising revenue
for revenue’s sake”, but instead minimising
gambling-related harm for consumers and
national sporting bodies.
Morrison did not set a date for when the
new laws might come into effect, and he
added that the country’s state and territory
governments need to examine the matter
further.
The proposed changes come shortly after
the Australian Senate gave its approval to
various amendments to national online
gambling laws that are set to outlaw
internet poker and in-play sports betting.
Earler in March, the Senate gave the
green light to changes set out in the
Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill
2016, including legislation that bans all
online gaming activities not specifically
authorised within the new national codes.
Online poker will be one of the areas
impacted, while although sports betting
will remain authorised, the amended law
reiterates a nationwide ban on any form of
in-play wagering.
BETSSON ENTERS SPAIN WITH
PREMIER CASINO ACQUISITION
Betsson is to expand its service
offering into the Spanish gaming
market with the acquisition of
locally-licensed operator Premier
Casino.
The purchase price amounts to
#3 million ($3.2 million) in cash, with
Betsson hoping to close the deal
before the end of the month.
Premier Casino primarily operates
as a pure-play casino, although it
does hold general licences for
sports betting and other online
games, and has more than 260,000
registered customers.
Betsson said the deal would have
no material impact on its short-term
financials, but did state that it would
enable long-term profitable growth
in Spain.
The firm added that it could also
launch more brands under the
Premier Casino licences as part of
its wider, multi-brand strategy.
Ulrik Bengtsson, chief executive
and president of Betsson, said:
“Spain is one of Europe’s largest
gaming markets and especially
casino is growing fast.
“This acquisition is in line with
Betsson’s ambition to increase the
share of locally regulated revenue.”
PADDY POWER SEEKS
APPOINTMENT TO LEAD TRUMP
BETTING
Paddy Power has created a new
role to head up the bookmaker’s
betting options on US President
Donald Trump.
The successful candidate for the
‘head of Trump betting position will
manage the company’s ‘Trump
Hub’ of special bets.
Paddy Power currently offers
more than 100 markets on the US
President and the three-month role
will include devising new special
bets on Trump, who took office
earlier this year.
Paddy Power lost almost £5
million (#5.8 million/$6.2 million) by
paying out early on Hillary Clinton
winning last year’s Presidential
election.
However, despite the loss, the
bookmaker has pushed ahead with
further betting options on Trump,
and the special ‘Trump Hub’
launched last month.
Current wagering options include
enhanced odds for Trump to be
impeached and for Mexico to
directly fund the planned wall on its
border with the US.
iGB Affiliate Issue 62 APR/MAY 2017
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