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payment blocking is in force . Though some operators argue that the regime is still not compatible with EU law , there has been no criticism or open challenge by the EC to date .
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 , Raha-automaattiyhdistys (“ RAY ”), Fintoto Oy and Veikkaus Oy . The monopolies merged into one state entity on 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 , bingo and lottery . Operator Type : Private operators can obtain online licences for sports betting , horse race betting and poker . The monopoly has exclusive rights to bingo and lottery . Status : A regulated market since the introduction of a licensing regime in 2010 , following which the EC withdrew its infringement proceedings . Parliament announced a full review of French gambling legislation in 2016 , although little progress has been made to date except for changes to allow for international poker liquidity and provisions relating to the organisation of esports tournaments . ARJEL has now reached an agreement with regulators from Portugal ,
Italy and Spain to allow for international poker liquidity , with the first licence to operate cross-border shared liquidity granted in December 2017 .
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 permit only 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 is in a state of flux . The tender for 20 federal sports betting licences was aborted , following a number of appeals by operators that were not granted a licence . The ECJ 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 , although the ban on online casinos will be upheld . However , on 22 September , Schleswig-Holstein ’ s state parliament voted against ratifying these , with North-Rhine Westphalia and Hesse since announcing their intention to follow suit .
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