WEBMASTER WORLD applicants while awaiting full licensure .
DENMARK
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , fantasy sports , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : Sports betting , poker and casino licences are available to private operators . Bingo , lottery and horse race betting ( fixed odds only ) are controlled by the state monopoly . Status : The Danish online gambling regime went live on 1 January 2012 . ISP-blocking measures are active in the jurisdiction and the Danish Gaming Authority has been granted an injunction in order to block operators and suppliers that have been targeting Danish customers without the requisite licence . Following a government announcement earlier this year , Denmark has submitted draft legislation to the EC which aims to open up online bingo and horse race betting markets to private operators . The standstill period ends on 2 June 2017 .
ESTONIA
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : Licences for all gambling products are available for private operators save that the monopoly has exclusive rights to lottery . Status : As of June 2016 , only 16 operators are licensed in the jurisdiction , 12 of which operate online . A blacklist of around 1,100 operators is maintained and updated by local authorities and ISP blocking is in force . A new law which introduces new player protection measures and relaxes certain online sports betting advertising restrictions took effect in June 2015 . Further amendments introduced in January 2016 extend the application of self-exclusion lists to lottery and sports betting players .
FINLAND
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : All gambling products are under the exclusive control of
the three monopoly providers , Rahaautomaatiyhdistys (“ RAY ”), Fintoto Oy and Veikkaus Oy . The monopolies merged into one state entity as of 1 January 2017 . Status : An ECJ ruling confirmed that Finland ’ s three monopoly providers are legally permitted , which was subsequently written into law . In November 2013 , the EC also withdrew infringement proceedings . Active enforcement measures are in place ( restrictive marketing for offshore operators and ISP blocking ).
FRANCE
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker and lottery . Operator Type : Private operators can obtain online licences for sports betting , horse race betting and poker . The monopoly has exclusive rights to lottery . Status : A regulated market that has been sanctioned by the EC . Parliament announced a full review of French gambling legislation in 2016 . On 7 October 2016 , the Digital Republic Act took effect , allowing international poker liquidity and the introduction of a new mechanism allowing players to self-limit the time spent playing games such as online poker and provisions relating to the organisation of esports tournaments .
GERMANY
Regulated Gambling Products : Schleswig-Holstein , a small Northern German state , regulates sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino and bingo . The other 15 states of Germany currently only permit sports betting and horse race betting . Operator Type : Private operators can no longer obtain licences in Schleswig- Holstein , and those in existence will expire on 30 June 2019 . In the other 15 states , horse race betting licences are available at a regional level but the position surrounding the 20 available sports betting licences is still uncertain . Status : The licensing regime in Germany is in a state of flux . The tender for 20 Federal sports betting licences was abortive , following a number of appeals by operators who were not granted a
licence . The CJEU ruled in 2016 that Germany ’ s sports betting regulation is incompatible with EU law and that enforcement actions will be unlawful where none of the 20 licences could , in practice , be acquired . The decision led to calls for comprehensive legal reform of Germany ’ s gambling legislation . In March 2017 , all 16 German states signed amendments to the country ’ s gambling law which will allow for an unlimited number of sports betting licences ( including temporary licences to those operators that fulfilled the minimum requirements in the 2012 sports betting tender ), although the ban on online casinos will be upheld . The decision to only make minimal amendments to the Treaty has drawn widespread criticism , particularly from the European Commission . Amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2018 .
GREAT BRITAIN
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : All licences are available to private operators save for lottery , which is reserved exclusively for the monopoly provider , Camelot . Status : Any operator that transacts with , or advertises to , British residents requires a licence from the Gambling Commission . From 31 March 2015 , licensed operators are required to source gambling software from Commissionlicensed businesses .
A corresponding tax rate of 15 % of gross profits was introduced on 1 December 2014 . This is subject to an ongoing judicial review by a Gibraltar trade association and its questions regarding its compatibility with European law . The Treasury is confident that it can defend its position . On 5 December 2016 , the UK government published its responses to the consultation on freeplay tax treatment for remote gaming , announcing that the first use of free-plays will be taxed and winnings will be brought into the duty calculation at the end of the rewagering process . The changes are set to be included in the Finance Bill 2017 and
iGB Affiliate Issue 62 APR / MAY 2017
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