Status : The enabling regulations that implement a Greek online gambling licensing regime are yet to be implemented . In 2012 , a “ transition period ” commenced whereby the Greek government granted 24 transitional licences to operators , enabling them to keep transacting with Greek residents . The fate of the 24 licences is still unclear , although the Hellenic Gaming Commission launched a consultation on the reform of the country ’ s online gambling regulation in late 2017 . Tax authorities in Greece are currently investigating the 24 licencees for taxes owed on operations from 2010-11 .
HUNGARY
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : Only the state monopolies ( Szerencsejáték Zrt . and Magyar Lóversenyfogadást-SzervezőKft ) and local concession companies can apply for a licence . Status : Amendments to Hungarian gambling law came into force on 1 October , 2015 , which allow only two land-based casinos to hold remote casino concessions . The regulator has since issued fines , a number of which have been challenged , against unlicensed operators that continue to target the market . In June 2017 , the ECJ determined Hungary ’ s gambling regime to be incompatible with Article 56 TFEU . A subsequent ECJ decision in February 2018 ruled against the Hungarian requirement that online gambling operators must have a land-based licence to offer online gambling services to Hungarian citizens , further strengthening arguments that the current regime is incompatible with EU law . The Hungarian Ministry of Justice has stated its intention to continue to seek to enforce the existing regime despite the most recent ruling . A draft bill that would introduce payment-blocking measures was notified to the EC on 15 December , 2017 , with the standstill period set to end on 16 March , 2018 .
IRELAND
Regulated Gambling Products : Online gaming is not specifically accounted for in Ireland ’ s outdated legislation and as such is currently unregulated .
Operator Type : Online betting regulated since August 2015 . Status : Ireland is currently updating its legislation , which will create a comprehensive igaming regime and payment restrictions . In January 2018 , the Irish Cabinet gave the go-ahead to draft a new version of a bill that was first proposed in 2013 . However , Ireland ’ s opposition party has tabled its own legislation to reform the country ’ s gaming laws , citing a lack of progress by the government on its own bill . The Betting ( Amendment ) Act 2015 requires remote bookmakers to hold a licence and pay a 1 % turnover-based duty .
ITALY
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : Fully regulated market . Status : The Stability Law 2016 , passed in December 2015 , introduces various measures affecting the remote gambling industry , including tax changes and tighter advertising rules . The law also provides for the award of 120 new online gaming licences . On 10 January , 2018 , the Italian authorities published a call for tender for the allocation of the new licences . The deadline for applications is 19 March , 2018 .
LUXEMBOURG
Regulated Gambling Products : Lottery . Operator Type : Monopoly . Status : The general prohibition on gambling appears sufficiently wide to cover all forms of online gambling .
MALTA
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : Private operators can apply for a local licence ( save for lottery products ). Status : Following an announcement by the Malta Gaming Authority in 2015 that it was to modernise its online gambling rules , Malta published a white paper in 2017 proposing widespread reforms to its regulatory framework on gambling . The white paper seeks to replace the licensing system with two types of licence only ( B2B and B2C ). Subject to parliamentary approval , it looks likely that the new Gaming Act will come into force on 1 July , 2018 .
NETHERLANDS
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : Monopoly for all products . Status : The Dutch Lower House approved the Online Gambling Bill in mid-2016 , which will introduce an online gambling licensing regime in the Netherlands . The legislation will impose a 29 % GGR tax on both online and land-based operators . The bill still requires approval from the Senate and licensing is not expected to commence until at least 2019 . In the interim , the regulator continues to implement enforcement measures against operators targeting Dutch players and has announced that , as of 1 June , 2017 , it would expand its approach to enforcement to pursue any operators that are “ specifically and unequivocally ” targeting the Dutch market . The regulator has published a list of factors that it considers to indicate ‘ targeting ’, but expressly states that the list is non-exhaustive .
NORWAY
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting and lottery . Operator Type : Online gambling is reserved for its two monopoly providers , Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto . Status : The monopoly has extended its offering to include live betting , online bingo and casino games in an attempt to redirect traffic from unlicensed sites . The government published in March 2017 a long-awaited white paper on how best to regulate the gambling sector , which proposed that the gambling monopoly remain in place and no licensing system be introduced . The Norwegian regulator continues to step up enforcement efforts against unregulated operators , local banks and payment service providers .
POLAND
Regulated Gambling Products : Sports betting , horse race betting , casino and poker . Operator Type : Betting licences are available for companies with a representative in Poland . Casino and
64 iGB Affiliate Issue 68 APR / MAY 2018