Taking into consideration the UK’s upcoming Exit from the European Union, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is turning its attention on the possible impact and is publishing a guidance note.  The contents of the document relate only to regulatory affairs within the remit of the MGA. Operators should be aware of ulterior consequences resulting from […]

Taking into consideration the UK’s upcoming Exit from the European Union, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is turning its attention on the possible impact and is publishing a guidance note. 

The contents of the document relate only to regulatory affairs within the remit of the MGA. Operators should be aware of ulterior consequences resulting from Brexit, including but not limited to data protection, immigration, employment, duty, and copyright considerations.

As per their official statement, the guidance note is of particular importance to entities established in Malta and operating in the United Kingdom, or entities established in the United Kingdom providing services and supplies within Malta, and it also details transitory measures in place for operators to ensure readiness and avoid regulatory disruption.

Last week, the Italian media have announced that in the Italian Goverment’s fiscal budget for 2020 is including a tax rise on large lottery jackpots from 12% to 23%. Gamblers’ winnings under €500 will be taxed with 12%. The new tax regime will be applied to all kinds of gambling, from lotteries to sports bets. […]

Last week, the Italian media have announced that in the Italian Goverment’s fiscal budget for 2020 is including a tax rise on large lottery jackpots from 12% to 23%.

Gamblers’ winnings under €500 will be taxed with 12%. The new tax regime will be applied to all kinds of gambling, from lotteries to sports bets. A variable rate will be escalated along with the value of winnings. The Italian gaming operators are struggling for impact after the proposed further tax increases. 

Laura Castelli, Deputy Minister for the Economy, said last week that the government’s “virtuous” fight against gambling would continue to “move forward, not backwards.”

Giorgio Pastorino, President of local gaming industry association STS, claimed that the plan would benefit only large banks and financial institution.

Pastorino characterized Castelli’s comments as “a lack of competence on the subject.” and wondered if Castelli thought if a punter would be interested in using a card to play a €1 game or make a small wager, while also claiming that operators would be unwilling to accept a card for such a low amount, considering the percentage of each payment stated by the card issuer.

After winning our very first iGaming Award for “Best iGaming Service Provider 2019” at the CEEGC Awards in Budapest, it’s time to chase our 2nd, prestigious Award in the iGaming Industry. On the 26th of November 2019 will be held the 6th Malta Gaming Awards. These Awards will be a part of one of the […]

After winning our very first iGaming Award for “Best iGaming Service Provider 2019” at the CEEGC Awards in Budapest, it’s time to chase our 2nd, prestigious Award in the iGaming Industry.

On the 26th of November 2019 will be held the 6th Malta Gaming Awards. These Awards will be a part of one of the most prestigious fairs in this sector, the Malta Gaming Week 2019. This year, companies can be nominated in 34 different categories and the nomination procedure is open to the public until October 25th, 2019.

We encourage you to support us and to dedicate less than 2 minutes of your time to Nominate NetShop Internet Services for the Award “Best Hosting Services”.
For your further convenience, we have listed the steps below:

Step 1: Go to https://bit.ly/2njH9Fj 
 
Step 2: Enter your Name and your E-mail address
 
Step 3: Enter the information related to the Company you Nominate (please refer to examples below for your convenience)

• Nominee’s Company: NetShop Internet Services 

• Nominee’s LinkedIn profile / Website: https://www.netshop-isp.com.cy 

• Nomination Criteria: “Best Hosting Services”

• Reason for Nomination: In just 2-3 lines explain why you are voting for us.

Thank you for your support!

24th September 2019 – NetShop ISP is announced as the winner in the category Best iGaming Service Provider at the 4th edition of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Awards 2019, which was held on the 24th of September in Budapest, Hungary, Ritz-Carlton Hotel. NetShop ISP has received the most votes and gained first place […]

24th September 2019 – NetShop ISP is announced as the winner in the category Best iGaming Service Provider at the 4th edition of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Awards 2019, which was held on the 24th of September in Budapest, Hungary, Ritz-Carlton Hotel. NetShop ISP has received the most votes and gained first place in two votings, one for shortlisting of the candidates and the final voting during the event. The other competitors in this category were Digital Choo, SoftGamings, All-in Global and Iforium.

This is the first time NetShop ISP was nominated to an iGaming related award and won. NetShop ISP is a leading web hosting & e-Commerce solutions provider in Cyprus. Since 2004, NetShop ISP has been a privately owned and operated company specializing in Internet hosting solutions. From Shared, Virtual and Dedicated servers to Cloud and Server Collocation Solutions. The victory at the CEEG Awards 2019 is the first milestone in expanding the company into the global market and soon the company opens its first Data Center in Los Angeles, USA.

CEEG Awards has been launched in 2016 and aims to reward the hard work of companies (Gaming Software Suppliers, Operators and Service Providers) that are active in the Central and Eastern European region.

CEEG Conference and Awards official website: https://ceegc.eu/

NetShop Internet Services is the winner for Best iGaming Service Provider at the CEEG Awards 2019

24th September 2019 – NetShop ISP is announced as the winner in the category Best iGaming Service Provider at the 4th edition of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Awards 2019, which was held on the 24th of September in Budapest, Hungary, Ritz-Carlton Hotel. NetShop ISP has received the most votes and gained first place in two votings, one for shortlisting of the candidates and the final voting during the event. The other competitors in this category were Digital Choo, SoftGamings, All-in Global and Iforium.

This is the first time NetShop ISP was nominated to an iGaming related award and won. NetShop ISP is a leading web hosting & e-Commerce solutions provider in Cyprus. Since 2004, NetShop ISP has been a privately owned and operated company specializing in Internet hosting solutions. From Shared, Virtual and Dedicated servers to Cloud and Server Collocation Solutions. The victory at the CEEG Awards 2019 is the first milestone in expanding the company into the global market and soon the company opens its first Data Center in Los Angeles, USA.

CEEG Awards has been launched in 2016 and aims to reward the hard work of companies (Gaming Software Suppliers, Operators and Service Providers) that are active in the Central and Eastern European region.

CEEG Conference and Awards official website: https://ceegc.eu/

NetShop ISP will hold the General Sponsor role during the 4th edition of CEEGC (The Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference) which will take place at The Ritz-Carlton Budapest on the 24th of September.  The conference is a unique opportunity for companies and individuals to meet some of the biggest names of the online and […]

NetShop ISP will hold the General Sponsor role during the 4th edition of CEEGC (The Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference) which will take place at The Ritz-Carlton Budapest on the 24th of September. 

The conference is a unique opportunity for companies and individuals to meet some of the biggest names of the online and land-based gambling industry from all around Europe with an emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe, North America, D-A-CH region and the Balkans.

“With so many companies lined up as sponsors for #CEEGC2019, we are honored to welcome @NetshopIsp as General Sponsor in the impressive list of supporting companies” the CEEGC announced via their official Twitter account. 

Kateryna Nechaieva, Sales & Partnerships Executive at NetShop ISP, stated: “This year’s CEEGC iGaming Conference is a milestone for NetShop ISP as it signals the Company’s global expansion worldwide, with key Data Center locations in countries with newly formed iGaming legislation framework. We are excited to Sponsor the CEEGC 2019 and looking forward to share our news with all participants!” 

With more than a decade of presence in the iGaming industry, NetShop ISP is today, one of the most preferred choices for Startups, B2C and B2B Operators, iGaming Suppliers and Payment Providers. NetShop ISP will be present at the CEEGC2019 in Budapest and will have the chance to present the igaming oriented hosting solutions to the participants of the event.

The Company has also been Nominated for the Award of the “Best iGaming Service Provider” at the CEEG Awards 2019.

In the wake of a new study presented to the EU Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) reiterates the necessity of a single set of online gambling rules on European policy makers.  According to the EGBA, a cross-border regulatory structure on online betting will eventually produce significant […]

In the wake of a new study presented to the EU Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) reiterates the necessity of a single set of online gambling rules on European policy makers. 

According to the EGBA, a cross-border regulatory structure on online betting will eventually produce significant savings and would be a significant upgrade on the current system which currently allows each national state to set its own rules. The 28 different sets of gambling policies are considerably different between them and create unnecessary national barriers. 

“Introducing a single set of rules for online betting in the EU makes perfect sense – it would improve the regulation of the sector, save significant money for both consumers and companies and help better protect consumers. That is why EGBA is calling on EU policymakers to ensure that the digital single market benefits the 12 million Europeans who bet online,” reports Maarten Haijer, secretary-general of the EGBA. 

The uniformity of European Online Gambling Laws was also discussed five years ago when the European Commission recommended greater consistency in consumer protection measures for the online gambling industry. During this five year period, their propositions have only been adopted by one EU member state.

A recent survey of the Finnish community revealed that, the majority of Finns do not trust the government in regards to gambling. A large section of the population feel that Ministers of Parliament in Finland’s government create rules and policies that only serve their self-preservation. The survey conducted by Bilendi Oy, a Finnish market research […]

A recent survey of the Finnish community revealed that, the majority of Finns do not trust the government in regards to gambling. A large section of the population feel that Ministers of Parliament in Finland’s government create rules and policies that only serve their self-preservation.

The survey conducted by Bilendi Oy, a Finnish market research firm was commissioned by Kasino Curt, an online gambling site, and one of the most interesting statements was: “Finnish MPs want gambling policies that are, first and foremost, beneficial for them.” 

From the 1,000 Finns who participated in the survey, 25.5% responded that they fully agreed with the statement and 31.8% partially agreed with it. Only 9.9% either completely or partially disagreed and 3.3% fully disagreed. The remaining responses showed that they either cannot offer an opinion or are neutral on the subject.

The survey was provided on the Kasino Curt website and it was primarily designed to give insight to the public’s sentiment toward the state-run gambling operator, Veikkaus. Another goal was to reveal if if changes in the country’s gambling scheme were needed and/or desired.

The Senior Client Service Manager for Bilendi Oy, Janne Juntunen, concludes that Finns are becoming more interested in having the Veikkaus monopoly eliminated. “The survey indicates that Finns have recently taken a stricter stance on the monopoly position of Veikkaus Ltd, the government-owned betting agency. Moreover, the idea of removing gambling machines from everyday environments is gaining increasing support across all age groups,” he explained. 

Almost half (45.3%) of the people surveyed believe that the Veikkaus monopoly will come to an end within ten years at the most.

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced today the launch of the second phase of the Sandbox Regulatory Framework, following the implementation of the first phase of the Framework on the 1st of January 2019. During Phase 1, the possibility for authorised persons to be allowed to accept Virtual Financial Assets (VFAs) as a means […]

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced today the launch of the second phase of the Sandbox Regulatory Framework, following the implementation of the first phase of the Framework on the 1st of January 2019. During Phase 1, the possibility for authorised persons to be allowed to accept Virtual Financial Assets (VFAs) as a means of payment was established. 

During Phase 2, the MGA will be accepting applications for the use of Innovative Technology Arrangements (ITAs), including Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platforms and smart contracts. The duration of the Sandbox Regulatory Framework will be until the 31st of December 2021. 

In order to reflect the developments that have taken place, the Guidance on the use of Innovative Technology Arrangements and the acceptance of Virtual Financial Assets and Virtual Tokens through the implementation of a Sandbox Environment has been amended. 

This means that the Licensee Relationship Management System (LRMS) has been updated to the effect that both prospective and existing licence holders are now able to apply for the MGA’s approval in order to integrate ITAs within their operation.

The approval to participate in the Sandbox Regulatory Framework is conditional on the applicant holding the relevant licence issued by the MGA. 

iGaming operator ComeOn has confirmed that it has withdrawn all active brands from the UK online gambling marketplace and will now focus on more “favourable markets”. ComeOn Chief Executive Lahcene Merzoug has updated stakeholders that the flagship ComeOn.com domain and subsidiaries MobileBet.com and GetLucky.com will withdraw from the UK due to new stricter enforcements on […]

iGaming operator ComeOn has confirmed that it has withdrawn all active brands from the UK online gambling marketplace and will now focus on more “favourable markets”.

ComeOn Chief Executive Lahcene Merzoug has updated stakeholders that the flagship ComeOn.com domain and subsidiaries MobileBet.com and GetLucky.com will withdraw from the UK due to new stricter enforcements on customer KYCs and care-of-duty procedures enforced by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

“UK is a very mature and highly competitive market and the financial risks are big. We have never had a non-compliance breach, but we’ve seen competitors being fined big numbers and that creates uncertainty.” Lahcene Merzoug commented. 

Although operating in the UK since 2014, the UK has never been a big market for the operator. “[…] the UK license has lost its symbolic value”, Mr. Merzoug explained and given the fact that the operator holds licenses in many European countries its attention is now drawn to other markets, Malta is one of them.

Due to the upcoming Brexit in the UK, the company decided to increase staff members in Malta at the expense of Gibraltar to provide European Union market access. Despite the fact, Bet365 made it clear that it would maintain a presence in the territory and did not inform on the exact percentage of decrease. Bet365 […]

Due to the upcoming Brexit in the UK, the company decided to increase staff members in Malta at the expense of Gibraltar to provide European Union market access. Despite the fact, Bet365 made it clear that it would maintain a presence in the territory and did not inform on the exact percentage of decrease.

Bet365 will continue its dual regulatory and licensing strategy position between Gibraltar and Malta due to the good relationship they currently have with Gibraltar’s government and regulatory bodies.

Came to this decision after a conversation with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo and Gambling Minister Albert Isola. The company also expects to continue its relationship with the Government of Gibraltar.

The latest announcement, informed the public that 100 of the company’s 500 Gibraltar employees will continue to be employed at Bet365. 

The announcement comes only one day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson prorogued the Parliament as a means of limiting the ability of lawmakers to block a “Hard Brexit”. 

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has already made gambling operator feel at home after distancing itself from an online gambling site purporting to be associated with Bet365.

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced today via a statement on their website, that “for the purpose of ensuring the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09) are being adhered to, the Authority has set-up a Committee (Commercial Communications Committee). The main functions of the Committee lie in reviewing commercial communications brought to its attention […]

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has announced today via a statement on their website, that “for the purpose of ensuring the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09) are being adhered to, the Authority has set-up a Committee (Commercial Communications Committee). The main functions of the Committee lie in reviewing commercial communications brought to its attention and assessing any possible breaches.”

On the same statement, the MGA is hereby issuing the Commercial Communications Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), as part of the MGA’s mission of placing player protection and responsible gaming on top of its regulatory agenda.

These Guidelines are aimed at providing practical guidance to any person offering licensable game/s and to persons who collaborate in any way or provide any service, including any marketing or promotional service, to or on behalf of such persons.  The Guidelines are intended to serve as guidance on the interpretation of the Regulations, and should not be considered to be a substitute for the relevant laws and regulations. They reflect the MGA’s intended effect of the Regulations, but neither constitute new rules nor bind the MGA or the Committee on the manner in which they will decide upon any commercial communication complaint.

All decisions taken by the Committee, following the determination of whether a breach has taken place or otherwise will be listed on www.mga.org.mt/CCC for future reference to all relevant stakeholders.”