Now that Czech National Court ruled that the decision to block illegal gambling sites in the country is constitutional, the authorities will move forward with igaming block. This month we saw the launch of PokerStars.cz, the first licensed online poker and casino operator since the new Gambling Act was introduced in Czech Republic on January […]

Now that Czech National Court ruled that the decision to block illegal gambling sites in the country is constitutional, the authorities will move forward with igaming block.

This month we saw the launch of PokerStars.cz, the first licensed online poker and casino operator since the new Gambling Act was introduced in Czech Republic on January 1, 2017.

Even though many international operators left the market months before the deadline, some have chosen to carry on their work as per usual. The government then announced that those not following the decision will be targeted and requested internet service providers (ISPs) to block all domains of sites that are acting against the law.

However, some Czech politicians expressed their concern, questioning whether the domain-blocking plan is constitutional. There were also claims that it is unfair to request ISPs to bear the costs of handling the blocking.

The Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic decided that such arguments do not affect the decision and the blocking is in fact constitutional. The court said that it does not stifle freedom of speech and ISPs need to be a part of the process since they are accessible and have the tools necessary to accomplish the task. According to the court, blocking is “likely the only effective (although not perfect) solution” to the problem of unauthorised gambling service.

The regional press revealed that at least 25 gaming platforms are operating without the official approval and are acting against the current law. Responsible officials will now be able to block any domain that is not licensed.

Russian authorities have approved new penalties for internet service providers (ISPs) who fail to restrict access to unauthorised online gambling domains. A few weeks ago Russia’s Duma adopted Bill 1102471-6, which amended the Russian Federation Code of Administrative Offences. The amendments increased fines for ISPs who fail to block websites that have been flagged by […]

Russian authorities have approved new penalties for internet service providers (ISPs) who fail to restrict access to unauthorised online gambling domains.

A few weeks ago Russia’s Duma adopted Bill 1102471-6, which amended the Russian Federation Code of Administrative Offences. The amendments increased fines for ISPs who fail to block websites that have been flagged by the Russian telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor. The bill was signed into law by Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

The new fines are twice higher than the size of the original penalties. Public officials face fines of RUB 5000 (US $86), while companies will have to pay up to RUB 100,000 ($1,722).

Roskomnadzor identified almost 87,000 offending domains in 2016, which was a 75% increase compared with 2015’s total. Although many of these sites offered porn or undesirable political opinions, 15,900 of the banned domains were gambling sites. This year agency got even busier, banning 1,400 gambling domains in the period of February 15-21.

However, despite active attempts by Roskomnadzor to ban gambling sites, ISPs were slow to take action. A recent study by RBC.ru revealed that 65% of the flagged domains remain accessible to Russians.

Russia has been very aggressive towards online gambling market recently. A few online sports betting licences were issued to domestic operators. In the meantime online casino, poker and other gambling products were prohibited. Last week, Russian authorities issued a legislation that prohibits local financial institutions from processing transactions on behalf of unauthorised online operators.

The government of the United Arab Emirates is planning to form a clear regulatory framework on the usability of Bitcoin and digital currency exchanges in the near future. On January 1, 2017, the Central Bank of UAE published a document “Regulatory Framework for Stored Values and Electronic Payment System,” that contained its vision of leading […]

The government of the United Arab Emirates is planning to form a clear regulatory framework on the usability of Bitcoin and digital currency exchanges in the near future.

On January 1, 2017, the Central Bank of UAE published a document “Regulatory Framework for Stored Values and Electronic Payment System,” that contained its vision of leading market adoption of digital payments and fintech technologies within the UAE.

A part of the document explicitly prohibited the use of virtual currencies, outlawing virtual currency transactions and trading. The document caused controversial discussions within the industry and raised a question whether the bill considers bitcoin and other digital currencies currently in existence.

Mubarak Rashed Khamis Al Mansouri, the governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, confirmed that the document doesn’t consider digital currencies like Bitcoin. Al Mansouri added that the central bank is considering legalising Bitcoin and “developing necessary regulatory frameworks for businesses and exchanges to comply with”.

The Central Bank of UAE may follow the example of the Bank of Canada, which recently announced that digital currencies like Bitcoin need government intervention for it to grow further.

In the report “Canadian Bank Notes and Dominion Notes: Lessons for Digital Currencies”, the researchers stated:

“We conclude that well designed and managed private digital currencies could circulate widely but only with appropriate government regulation to ensure their safety, soundness, and uniformity”.

Betting firms in Kenya have warned the local government that proposed law to regulate gambling in the country will do more harm than good to the industry. They believe that the law proposed by MP Jakoyo Midiwo will cause stagnation in the growing business of gambling and will prevent Kenya from benefiting of any potential […]

Betting firms in Kenya have warned the local government that proposed law to regulate gambling in the country will do more harm than good to the industry. They believe that the law proposed by MP Jakoyo Midiwo will cause stagnation in the growing business of gambling and will prevent Kenya from benefiting of any potential tax revenues.

The Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya (AGOK) called the bill misguided and asked to defer it until further consultations are conducted and a compromise of two sides is reached.

“The Bill requires significant amendments. It would not be the same Bill as it was at the first reading,” said AGOK chairman Ronald Karauri. “There appears to be a concerted targeting of the industry through measures that are designed to cripple the industry,” he added.

The bill proposes to double the betting tax (from 7.5% to 15%), to increase the lottery tax from 5% to 20% and the gaming tax from 12% to 20%. Karauri believes that such changes are breaching the Constitution and will create unsustainable business conditions.

Further, AGOK chairman questions Midiwo’s research on problem gambling and states that “it has never been scientifically proven that betting is addictive”.
“It is my personal belief that if there was a problem with betting, it would not grow,” commented Karauri.

A National Assembly committee is willing to negotiate and seek for a solution that is more acceptable for betting firms, but the bill can no longer be deferred.
“There is some urgency in the matter,” commented David Were, the committee chairman.

Recently NetShop has announced the company’s decision to accept Bitcoin payments for all the hosting services, domains and SSL certificates. We are glad to present an exclusive interview with Lorenzo Sordini, CFO of NetShop Internet Services Ltd, examining NetShop’s approach towards the cryptocurrency, engagement of Bitcoin in the hosting industry and the benefits of this […]

Recently NetShop has announced the company’s decision to accept Bitcoin payments for all the hosting services, domains and SSL certificates. We are glad to present an exclusive interview with Lorenzo Sordini, CFO of NetShop Internet Services Ltd, examining NetShop’s approach towards the cryptocurrency, engagement of Bitcoin in the hosting industry and the benefits of this change that will be brought to the customers of NetShop.

Q: NetShop has decided to accept Bitcoin payments for the services provided. Why is that?

Some would think this decision is part of a new marketing approach – it’s not. The hosting industry is very dynamic and sometimes even aggressive, especially for providers like NetShop that host iGaming companies and financial institutions. Bitcoin payments help our company to enjoy a higher level of protection and prevent fraudulent transactions which are unwelcome by our BackOffice and Billing departments. Moreover, getting paid in Bitcoin is much faster than any other payment methods. There is no risk of having client funds locked in the intermediary institutions. This is a big advantage for both our company and the clients since we can have the order activated and services provided almost instantly.

Q: How will your clients benefit from that?

Bitcoin, although a new form of payment, is very secure. Our main concern, as a hosting provider, is to keep our clients’ data safe and ensure that any transactions conducted within the myNetShop portal are 100% secure for both our company and the end-customer. I completely agree with Stuart Eichert (Silicon Valley engineer) who emphasized one big benefit of Bitcoin. He said that “customers using Bitcoin leave no data behind that can be used to steal their identity or print fake credit cards”. Accepting Bitcoin is also a huge advantage for a lot of our existing customers in Asia who have trouble sending money to European companies. Now they will have zero transaction fees and be sure that the payments are instantly received by the merchant.

Q: How would you respond to seemingly contradictory opinions that Bitcoin is often associated with fraud due to its anonymity. How will you ensure that your payment system is safe and secure?

Well, as I mentioned earlier, fraud prevention and security are the two reasons that made us consider accepting Bitcoin payments. Bitcoin currency allows transactions to be conducted without having customers to divulge personally identifiable information. However, we operate through a U.S. Bitcoin Exchange (BitPay.com) which requires personal information in order to establish their clients’ Bitcoin wallets. Working in accordance with international regulations is vital to us. We accept no other attitude towards our operations than being 100% transparent and trusted.

Q: How do you see the future of Bitcoin in the hosting industry?

As said, the hosting industry is very dynamic and as the technology progresses, hosting providers should be able to cope, and more importantly, be ahead of the fast developments in technology. I believe that, at least during 2017, customers will be the ones who push their hosting companies to include Bitcoin as an accepted payment method. Going forward, in the next two years, we will see a massive progress towards the adoption of Bitcoin payments. I believe it will peak in 2020 when providing Bitcoin wallets will be a common practice.

Q: There are still not that many hosting companies accepting Bitcoin. Is taking a proactive approach towards industry needs a core value to NetShop? How important is being innovative and agile to you?

There are about 30 big hosting companies accepting Bitcoin at this point. Compared to the number of the legitimate hosting providers it’s a very small portion. The industry is still at the early stage of seeing Bitcoin payments as a default payment method and I’m glad that NetShop steps up as an innovator once again. We are driving the change and we are one of the front runners. That’s something that started this company and we have no other plans than to continue such approach. We listen to the industry needs, we care about our clients and we are always one step ahead to make sure that their business is handled as fast, comfortable and safe as possible. Our goal is to facilitate tools and services to our customers without any delays or constraints. NetShop is brave, proactive and flexible. And these qualities always worked for the best for us and for our customers. Don’t forget that NetShop ISP is the very first provider in Cyprus to offer Linux cPanel hosting, Cloud services and Dedicated Servers at prices equivalent to Europe’s hosting giants. We have always been in front.

Russia is introducing a legislation that would oblige banks and payment processors to block transactions with international online gambling companies. The Ministry of Finance prepared a new bill that aims to stop the flow of funds between Russian punters and international online gambling operators. The changes are set to be discussed by the government on […]

Russia is introducing a legislation that would oblige banks and payment processors to block transactions with international online gambling companies.

The Ministry of Finance prepared a new bill that aims to stop the flow of funds between Russian punters and international online gambling operators. The changes are set to be discussed by the government on Thursday.

If the bill gets approved, the Federal Task Service will create a blacklist of Russian and international companies and individuals that are involved in illegal online gaming activities. The list will be then sent to financial institutions in the country, which will be responsible for blocking future transactions.

The bill was originally proposed in 2015, but encountered heavy resistance from certain government ministries, as well as some major Russian financial institutions.

Russia agreed to have a limited number of domestic sports betting operators launching online betting sites but internationally licensed companies remain unwelcome. Further, all sites licensed in Russia are obliged to process payments through centralised hubs known as TSUPIS. In this way the government can easily monitor online gambling activity.

It is estimated that Russian players spend approximately $3 billion every year on foreign online gaming websites.

Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, has signed an executive order that brings clarity to country’s online gambling market while establishing the definition of the issue, clarifying the extent of authority for the regulation and licensing of online gambling operations. The Executive Order No. 13 was created as a measure to have the total […]

Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, has signed an executive order that brings clarity to country’s online gambling market while establishing the definition of the issue, clarifying the extent of authority for the regulation and licensing of online gambling operations.

The Executive Order No. 13 was created as a measure to have the total shut down on illegal online gambling in the Philippines. It gives the power to PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) to grant iGaming licences and prohibit any platforms that operate without official permission.

“The State condemns the existence of illegal gambling activities as a widespread social menace and source of corruption, as it has become an influential factor in an individual’s disregard for the value of dignified work, perseverance and thrift,” states the order.

Under the new commands, the Philippines National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will work together with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in order to fight against unauthorised gaming activities.

The order notes that there are multiple gaming licensing jurisdictions within the country besides PAGCOR, including the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO). They all will be able to grant gaming permissions under the new law.

Australia’s broadcasters have expressed their discontent with the attempts to ban advertising of betting odds and commercials during live sporting broadcasts. The rules on interactive gambling are planned to be tightened following recommendations made in the 2015 Review of Illegal Offshore Wagering. The initial proposal allowed gaming advertisements on television and radio, but the ruling […]

Australia’s broadcasters have expressed their discontent with the attempts to ban advertising of betting odds and commercials during live sporting broadcasts.

The rules on interactive gambling are planned to be tightened following recommendations made in the 2015 Review of Illegal Offshore Wagering.

The initial proposal allowed gaming advertisements on television and radio, but the ruling administration introduced an amendment that would outlaw them from live sports broadcasts.

“The House calls on the Government to work with the broadcasting industry and national sporting organisations on a transition plan to phase out the promotion of betting odds and commercials relating to betting or gambling before and during live sporting broadcasts, with a view to their prohibition,” the amendment introduced by acting opposition Communications spokesman Mark Dreyfus and Labor spokesperson for gambling Julie Collins states.

According to Dreyfus, the current restrictions should be extended to ensure there is no promotion of betting odds or gambling advertising before a game, and even during scheduled breaks.

Lobby group against the measure Free TV believes that the amendments are both “unwarranted” and “unnecessary”.

“Commercial broadcasters already have the most comprehensive, targeted set of restrictions on the promotion of betting services of any media platform in Australia,” states Free TV chief executive Brett Savill.

“Introducing new restrictions which single-out free to air television — which continues to be the most heavily regulated media platform in Australia — is entirely unnecessary,” the lobby group believes.

“In fact, doing so would risk regulatory bypass and put commercial free to air broadcasters at a competitive disadvantage compared to other media platforms, while failing to achieve the policy intent.”

The largest expo of the year dedicated to gambling industry started yesterday in London. Professionals from around the globe are gathering to London ExCeL to check out the newest innovations, products, sessions and participate in offered networking opportunities. Whatever you are working on, be it betting, casino, or bingo, you will find a platform that […]

The largest expo of the year dedicated to gambling industry started yesterday in London. Professionals from around the globe are gathering to London ExCeL to check out the newest innovations, products, sessions and participate in offered networking opportunities.

Whatever you are working on, be it betting, casino, or bingo, you will find a platform that will interest and inspire you. The biggest companies of the industry are taking part in the event.

One of the most popular panels is the one dedicated to Blockchain. It becomes more and more obvious that this technology has started seriously attracting the attention of the gambling industry.

“We are really on the verge of big things between the gaming industry and blockchain– blockchain as a technology supporting different services and of course crypto/digital currencies. 2017 can be a big year for a combination of these activities and industries. We’ve passed the Proof of Concept stage and now we’re getting into the real activities”, Eddy Travia of Coinsilium was quoted by CalvinAyre.com. “In the long term, there will be plenty of very interesting collaboration between the two spaces”, he added.

“If you’re not doing something in Blockchain as an operator you’re going to be blindsided. It is a tsunami and this technology will change everything”, said Adam Vaziri of Diacle.

“If you want the benefits of blockchain you have to go ‘all-in’”, said Vaziri. He advised operators to build their companies right from the bottom on the Blockchain if they want 80% efficiencies. “Shorttermism is not going to take you anywhere…if you dabble…if you want the benefits, you have to be a pioneer and you have to be all-in”, explained Vaziri.

Last year ICE 2016 had a record attendance of 28,487, increasing the reputation of ICE as the most international business event anywhere in gaming.

The Vietnamese government made a historic decision to legalise sports betting. The formal decree legalising betting on international football matches, as well as horse- and dog-racing has been released at the end of last week. The new legislation, signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will take effect from March 31. Online betting is out […]

The Vietnamese government made a historic decision to legalise sports betting. The formal decree legalising betting on international football matches, as well as horse- and dog-racing has been released at the end of last week. The new legislation, signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will take effect from March 31.

Online betting is out of question for now, the decree legalises gaming through only land-based platforms. Some other conditions are established by the lawmakers. Only those above 21 years old are allowed to gamble, the minimum bet will be VND$1,000 (US$4.42 cents) and the daily maximum limit of VND$1 million (US$40).

Further, the sports betting places will have to be located at least 500 meters away from schools and public venues for children. The decree only allows betting on international soccer games that are recognised by FIFA and approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Only one company will be allowed to do this business. The government decided that selected company must have an investment capital of at least 1 trillion dong ($44 million). The business will continue for five year trial period. After that, the decision will be taken, whether to continue this project.

This is not the first step taken by the Vietnamese government in order to innovate the gaming industry in the country. Last month, the government issued a decree allowing Vietnamese citizens to gamble in the casinos that were previously open to the foreigners only.

Greek lottery and betting operator OPAP has announced that its entire digital sports betting operation will be migrated to the new Betgenius sportsbook platform. Under the new agreement, Betgenius will also become OPAP’s primary provider of in-play data, delivering fully-automated, real-time prices for around 130,000 sports events annually. OPAP is also choosing to use Betgenius […]

Greek lottery and betting operator OPAP has announced that its entire digital sports betting operation will be migrated to the new Betgenius sportsbook platform.

Under the new agreement, Betgenius will also become OPAP’s primary provider of in-play data, delivering fully-automated, real-time prices for around 130,000 sports events annually.

OPAP is also choosing to use Betgenius Sportsbook Platform’s full back office suite, CRM and marketing tools, outsourced trading and UX development across all digital channels.

Commenting on the news OPAP Chief Executive Officer, Damian Cope said: “We are very pleased to be announcing this deal with Betgenius, which is an important step in building a world class portfolio of products and services for OPAP’s customers. Our cooperation with Betgenius will allow us to be in more control of our digital sportsbook product and also provide the flexibility to enable us to react quickly to the fast-changing world of digital sports betting.”

According to Betgenius, its platform offers a “highly scalable, modular solution which gives operators maximum control, particularly around the delivery of differentiation in front-end design”.

Jack Davison, Managing Director of Betgenius, commented: “We are hugely proud and excited to have been selected by OPAP as a key partner in its efforts to offer its customers the best sports betting experience possible. The Betgenius Sportsbook Platform has been developed with speed, flexibility and scalability at its heart, and allows us to uphold the same high standards in technology and customer service to which we have always been committed.”

In the Netherlands, the Dutch Lower House passed a bill that allows privatising of the state-owned gambling operator Holland Casino. This can be done before having some of its licences sold off. The bill, however, must still pass the Senate before it can come to an effect, although this is not expected to happen before […]

In the Netherlands, the Dutch Lower House passed a bill that allows privatising of the state-owned gambling operator Holland Casino. This can be done before having some of its licences sold off. The bill, however, must still pass the Senate before it can come to an effect, although this is not expected to happen before the end of March.

Holland Casino at the moment is the only land-based casino operator that is legally permitted to offer live table games, such as roulette, baccarat and blackjack. Its sale might net the state as much as 1bn euro.

The legislation proposes that 14 individual branches of Holland Casino will be split up. 10 of them will still remain part of the casino and 4 will be sold. An additional two land-based casino licenses will be newly created. The consequences resulting from the new measures will be evaluated after five years.

The bill states that the buyer of Holland Casino and its ten casinos would not be allowed to acquire any of the remaining six licenses. Further, future operators will be required to guarantee the jobs of all employees at their purchased venues. They will also be prohibited from offering bonuses or loyalty programs.

Willem Van Oort, the founder of Gaming In Holland, said that without any doubts the progress has been made:

“By and large, the adoption of this bill is a significant victory for the liberalisation of gambling in The Netherlands”.

“However, the bill must still pass the Senate, which will almost certainly not happen before the lower house elections of March. It is thus not entirely unthinkable, depending on the next government, that further consideration of the bill will [be] delayed or even indefinitely postponed” stated Van Oort.