News

The site for the German Federal States’ Joint Gambling Authority is now online.

The executive of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt has announced the launch the website for the country’s new federal regulator, Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL – The German Federal States’ Joint Gambling Authority).

On its website, the GGL said that 110 staff will be required by the agency and that it will soon announce 50 new job advertisements on its careers page.

The GGL is not yet fully formed and must still finalise its senior management and administrative structures. Saxony Anhalt has said it expected the body to be fully operational by January 1 next year. Until then, the executive of Hesse will serve as the temporary body for German sports betting licences while Saxony-Anhalt is responsible for online casino and poker licences.

The north-eastern state was chosen to host the federal gaming supervisor in 2020 as part of the development of the new federal treaty on gambling, which established a federal regulated online gambling market from last July.

Bundestag representative Anne Poggemann is serving as the state’s first gambling minister and overseeing the creation of the GGL, which will have its headquarters in Halle in the south of Saxony Anhalt. Ronald Benter and Benjamin Schwanke will lead the regulator as joint chief executives. 

As well as licensing, the GGL will be responsible for maintaining databases monitoring player engagements and operator activities.

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Denmark’s gaming regulator Spillemyndigheden has submitted an updated certification system for online betting, online casino and land-based betting licensing to the European Commission.

This will become ‘version 2.0’ of Spillemyndigheden’s certification system, the regulator explained, following previous updates in 2015, 2018 and 2020.

The system outlines what conditions operators must meet to be issued licences, with rules tightened around data, testing and player protection.

The certification document was submitted to the European Commission on 25 January 2022. It must now enter a standstill period, which ends on 26 April 2022.

Changes will be implemented across a number of areas. A players’ status with Denmark’s Register of Voluntarily Excluded Players (ROFUS) will no longer be stored by licensees after it has been used for the original purpose.

In January, Spillemyndigheden reported that over 30,000 players had self-excluded with ROFUS.

Additionally, operators will no longer be required to submit quarterly reports on system changes to Spillemyndigheden.

Specifications also address the use of certain types of language. Requirements to display information on harmful gambling, the ROFUS register and other customer protection measures must be clearly displayed on the licencees’s site interface in accurate and clear language.

Adjustments will be made to the testing process. Current requirements for testing must adhere to certain International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) requirements, specifically ISO17020 or ISO17025.

ISO17020 holds requirements for different types of inspection bodies, while ISO17025 details the requirements testing and calibration labs.

If the European Commission ratifies the certification update, ISO17025 will remain while ISO17920 will be replaced by ISO17065, which has requirements for bodies certifying products and services.

If the updated certification system is ratified by the European Commission, there will be a transition period that ends on 1 January 2023.

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Dutch gambling regulator de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued a new igaming licence to Belgium’s Casino de Spa, one of the oldest land-based casinos in the world.

The licence will enable Casino de Spa to offer online games of chance over the internet to players in the Netherlands.

The new permit came into effect on 2 February and will be valid for a period of five years, to February 2027.

Casino de Spa will operate in the Netherlands via its Casino777.be online brand.

The operator becomes the 12th business to secure an igaming licence in the Netherlands since the country launched its regulated online gambling market on 1 October last year.

The market went live with an initial 10 operators, with the KSA having issued licences to bet365, UK-based bingo operator Tombola and Malta- and Estonia-licensed Play North Ltd are among the brands cleared to launch, alongside Dutch land-based operator Holland Casino NV and state lottery Nederlandse Loterij with its TOTO Online betting brand.

The Janshen Hahnraths Group with FPO Nederland, Italy-based Betent, Belgian brand Bingoal, NSUS Malta, which runs the GGPoker.eu brand and sports media and betting business LiveScore Malta also held licences on opening day.

JOI Gaming, a division of Dutch land-based casino operator JVH Gaming & Entertainment Group, also secured an online gambling licence in the country in November.

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A bill proposing the legalisation of mobile sports wagering in South Dakota has been passed in the state’s Senate.

Senate Joint Resolution 502 is set to be introduced during South Dakota’s next general election, allowing citizens the chance to vote on whether it should come to pass. The proposal was passed by a slim majority – 18 votes to 17.

Should the proposal be voted in at the general election, players will be able to place mobile wagers on sporting events, provided the platform is partnered with one of the casinos in the city of Deadwood.

The legislation stipulates that any proceeds from games of chance should be used for educational, charitable, patriotic, religious, or other public spirited uses – which include the historic restoration and preservation of Deadwood. The resolution will also allow for a state-run lottery and video games of chance.

Sports betting was legalised in South Dakota back in March 2021 after Governor Kristi Noem signed Senate Bill 44 into law, but restricted to casinos in the city of Deadwood.

A bill to legalise retail outlets to act as affiliates for Deadwood’s casinos has also progressed in the state legislature, and referred to the House State Affairs Committee.

House Bill 1148 defines a licenced affiliate business as “any premises that forms a partnership with a licensed gaming establishment for the purpose of offering customers within the interior of the premises the opportunity to wager on sporting events through the sports wagering system of a licensed gaming establishment”.

The licence fee for an affiliate business licence stands at $2,000, and is renewable on 1 July every year for a fee of $200. Any licenced affiliate businesses perceived to commit violations of the state’s gaming legislation could be fined up to $25,000.

House Bill 1148 was first introduced into the Senate at the end of January, and is scheduled for hearing in the Senate House tomorrow (9 February).

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Hungary’s parliament has introduced online gaming legislation which open the market to private online operators, bringing an end to the current state monopoly on sports betting.

In the previous iteration of Hungary’s gaming laws, written in 2014, land-based casino operators were allowed to apply for online casino and poker licenses, while online sports betting was restricted to the state-run Szerencsejáték Zrt betting monopoly.

Under the new proposals, operators within the European Economic Area will be free to launch online gaming offerings in the country with the permission of Hungary’s gaming regulator. There is so far no limit on the number of permits that can be issued.

Any operators who have offered igaming in Europe without a licence during the ten years before their application will be prohibited from operating in Hungary.

The legislation also allows the use of credit cards for online deposits, provided it is linked with an authorised payment service provider.

Any operator looking to obtain a licence must also have share capital of at least HUF1bn (£2.4m/€2.8m). Licence fees will cost HUF600m (€1.7m/£1.4m), paid to the Hungarian State Treasury. Operators are also obliged to provide a minimum guarantee of HUF250m, while the tax rate for operators is yet to be determined.

Changes to the legislation are designed to ensure a higher standard of player protection. Recognising that a more competitive gaming market could encourage excessive gambling, the bill stipulates that a player protection plan be drawn up by the operator “in accordance with the principle of responsible gaming and the protection of players”.

Text within the legislation explains: “In a liberalised online betting market, several private companies are competing with each other, so there is a danger of encouraging excessive gambling instead of maximising the principle of responsible gaming.

“Therefore, the draft aims to liberalize remote gambling by emphasizing the protection of players and introducing guarantee regulatory elements that protect the interests of players.”

The bill is subject to a standstill period following its notification to the European Commission, which runs until 4 May.

The Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) ruled in 2017 that Hungary’s online gaming rules were unlawfully excluding European operators from the licencing process.

This followed Kindred Group’s Unibet brand bringing the case to court, alleging that international operators were unable to meet Hungary’s conditions for online licensing.

The European Gaming and Betting Association believes the E-ID initiative would benefit gambling operators and customers.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has lent its support for the European Union’s plan for a harmonised European Digital Identity (E-ID).

The digital ID system will allow EU citizens to guard a range of data, such as name, date of birth, bank account numbers, driving licences and proof of Covid-19 vaccination status in a single electronic wallet.
Both public and private sector organisations, including gambling sites, would have to recognise the ID, which could begin to roll out as early as next year, with a target for 80 per cent of EU citizens to be using it by 2030.

The EGBA’s manager of EU affairs, Vasiliki Panousi, noted that this could offer benefits for gambling operators and customers, allowing easier, standardised procedures of age and identify verification and electronic signing.
Writing in the International Masters of Gaming Law Magazine, Panousi said: “Α standardised, pan-EU identity verification method would […] provide online gambling operators with a new, streamlined method for compliance with many different rules and help reduce administrative and compliance costs, in particular for those companies that operate across multiple member states.

“An EU-wide e-ID would strengthen existing processes to prevent minors from accessing online gambling and positively impact the EU’s fight against criminal and fraudulent activity.”

The E-ID would also allow self-excluded players to share their data on their self-exclusion in their E-ID wallet, although some have noted that they will need awareness of how to do this.

Panousi said: “It would also offer national gambling authorities a standardised tool to identify customers with a high degree of certainty and support an operator’s compliance in their jurisdiction.

“As well as streamlining the work of operators, an E-ID would also enhance the customer experience. In an ever-increasing era of online services, players would be able to verify their identities easily, with the click of a button.”

The EGBA has long pushed for more standardised regulation of consumer protection rules across the European Union, noting the great disparity in online gambling regulation across the bloc.

The group has welcomed the European Commission’s new anti-money laundering (AML) framework, saying it would lead to more consistency. Meanwhile, it’s raised concerns over a proposed ban on free bets in Ireland.

A survey of ICE London attendees reveals the vast majority of this year’s delegates see the show as a key event for deals, industry knowledge and discovering new ideas and concepts.

A research project from Explori, which canvassed the opinions of 1,211 ICE registrants, has revealed that just under three out of four (74%) plan to attend the show, which returns to ExCeL London on 12-14 April. 

Of this number, 77% were either final decision makers or had a say in purchasing decisions for their business. The vast majority (81%) viewed the show as important to attend, with 67% saying they did so to acquire new suppliers or partners. 

A further 56% said they travelled to the show to gain an overview of the gaming market, with 53% saying they would be at the ExCeL to be inspired by new ideas. 

This, Clarion Gaming managing director Stuart Hunter said, demonstrated the appetite for the show’s return after an absence of more than two years.

However, he stressed that the move to April was “very much a one-off and a last resort” due to the lack of any alternative dates for an exhibition the size and scale of ICE.

Furthermore, the new dates in April had substantially eased concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic, which prompted the shift from early February. 

“We also have the recent announcement by the UK Government confirming that from 11 February, vaccinated international travellers will not have to test for Covid on arrival in England,” Hunter said. “This is a major development that will encourage more visitors to make the journey to London and be part of the ICE experience. 

“In addition, the UK Government has moved to its Plan A Covid response which involves a significant easing of Covid restrictions, including the end of mandatory face masks and a relaxation of the rules applying to Covid Certification Passports.

“I support the view of lead bodies such as UKHospitality and UKinbound that the lifting of restrictions represents a pragmatic step towards normality. It also shows that the UK and ICE London are very much open for business.”

Some high-profile exhibitors have announced their withdrawal from this year’s event, something Hunter said had changed the dynamic of ICE 2022. However, he reiterated that ICE remains the largest gaming event in the calendar, with around 450 businesses still exhibiting this year, alongside a further 150 at iGB Affiliate London. 

In less than two weeks, a further 15 new exhibitors had signed up, occupying more than 1,000 square metres of space on the show floor. 

“The ICE brand has always worked to represent the entire gaming ecosystem. We continue to be committed to the whole of the industry, including the many smaller businesses throughout the supply chain which rely on ICE London for a significant proportion of their annual turnover,” Hunter added. 

“It’s been too long since the business has been able to meet face-to-face and the team is looking forward to bringing everyone together to celebrate the return of the industry in a safe and a secure environment. I would like to add that we will continue to engage with our customers in the run-up to and after the completion of ICE London 2022.”

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Schleswig-Holstein’s legislature (Landtag) has passed a law confirming it will issue five online table game licences, and set a tax rate of up to 44% of gross gaming revenue.

The Landtag approved a law to implement the Fourth State Treaty on Gambling, which allowed for online casino games to be offered across Germany – rather than only in Schleswig-Holstein – for the first time when it came into force in July 2021.

Within the Treaty, state governments were given a choice in how they wished to regulate online casino table games. They may either create a monopoly or issue as many licences as the state has land-based casinos. In Schleswig-Holstein, there are five land-based casinos.

With the new law, Schleswig-Holstein will opt for the latter approach, allowing for five online table game operators.

Hans-Jörn Arp, Parliamentary Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), confirmed that one of these licences would go to state-run Spielbank Schleswig-Holstein, leaving four other licences available.

He added that these licences would be issued “according to reputable and strict criteria”.

“It was important to us to prevent the creation of a new Las Vegas and instead to control exactly who is playing what and how the data and money flows,” he said.

The new laws also set out taxes for online table games. Revenue up to €300,000 per month will be taxed at 34%, revenue between €300,000 and €750,000 will be taxed at 39%  and higher revenue will be taxed at 44%.

Under the state treaty, a new federal authority to regulate gambling has been established in Sachsen-Anhalt. Arp added that it was necessary for all federal states to throw their support behind this body “before providers move abroad and our channeling plan would be jeopardised”.

Currently, the new regulatory body has not approved any online gaming licensees.

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Five different bills that would see a casino, a lottery and sports wagering implemented in Hawaii have passed their first readings in the state House.

Each bill has been referred, or re-referred, to four committees- Economic Development, Customer Protection and Commerce, Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Finance.

The first bill to be introduced was House Bill 1820 on 24 January, which would grant a 10-year licence for one members-only casino on the island of Waikiki.

It outlines the admission of a $20-per-day pass to guests who register to stay a minimum of one day and one night at the hotel, and establishes the creation of the state gaming fund and compulsive gambler program.

House Bill 1973 would regulate sports wagering in the state, giving the responsibility to the department of business, economic development and tourism.

It also outlines licencing requirements for sports wagering operators and suppliers, and states that sports wagering would not be classified as a game of chance. It was introduced on January 26 along with the remaining three bills.

Licencees would be subject to a tax of 10% of their adjusted gross sports wagering receipts.

House Bill 2040 aims to establish the Hawaiian Lottery and Gaming Corporation, which would conduct and regulate wagering and gaming. It would also authorize the Lottery and Gaming Special Fund, which would allocate funds for community  purposes.

Similarly, House Bill 2485 would establish a state lottery commission. The commission would ensure that excess lottery funds are used to address issues caused by invasive species.

Lastly House Bill 1962 would require the department of Hawaiian home lands to conduct a report on the potential revenue from casino gaming in the state. The report would be due in 2023.

Currently, Hawaii and Utah are the two states where all forms of gambling are illegal.

The bills come one year after legislators in the state’s House of Representatives and Senate introduced six bills that would allow gambling in Hawaii. All of the bills eventually died in committee.

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The Canadian province of Ontario will open its legal igaming market on April 4, iGaming Ontario (iGO) the subsidiary of Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) that will oversee the market has announced.

This will conclude a process that dates back to April 2019, when the province’s government announced plans to end Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s monopoly on igaming, opening up the market to private operators. It then moved forward with these plans in November 2020, with legislation introduced and passed in 2021.

AGCO released its final igaming sports and event betting regulatory standards in September of last year, including changes to advertising standards and integrity rules. 

Single-event sports betting officially launched in Canada on August 27, but is currently only offered by provincial lotteries.

The rules were integrated into AGCO’s existing Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, which was published on July 14 last year, and will now come into effect on April 4.

From this date, private gaming operators registered with the AGCO and have in place an operating agreement with iGO can begin offering their games to players in Ontario.

“Consumers can be assured that companies who successfully enter the new Ontario market will have met rigorous standards of game and operator integrity, fairness, player protections and social responsibility, allowing all players to play with confidence,” IGO executive director Martha Otton said.

This will see measures to prevent underage gambling, ensure compliance with all applicable laws, and responsible gambling safeguards introduced from April 4.

“Today, most internet gaming by Ontarians takes place on websites not conducted and managed by the province,” Otton added. “Our new internet gaming market will give consumers enhanced entertainment choice, support the growth of a new, legal market and generate revenue that can help fund programs and services that benefit all of us.”

Penn National Gaming president and chief executive Jay Snowden, together with John Levy, chief executive of its subsidiary theScore, welcomed the news.

Last week, Penn National Gaming and theScore Bet venture became the first prospective private market operator in Ontario to secure the Responsible Gambling Check iGaming Accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) ahead of the market opening.

“Launching theScore Bet in Ontario will mark an exciting expansion of our online gaming business into a major new market where we already have an established mobile sports media product in theScore app and a wide base of loyal users,” Snowden said.

“Today’s news is very exciting, and I would like to recognize and congratulate the government of Ontario and the AGCO and iGaming Ontario for their dedication to creating a modern open and regulated sports betting and igaming market.”

Levy added: “The AGCO and iGaming Ontario have been thoughtful and collaborative in their approach to creating and managing this new industry, and the result is a soon-to-be-launched framework that will bring widespread benefits to Ontarians and establish Ontario as one of the biggest and most important regulated gaming markets in North America.”

He said theScore Bet “could not be more excited” to bring its sports betting and igaming offering to customers in its home province.

In December, affiliate Bonusfinder said the Canadian province of Ontario could become the most attractive online gambling market in all of North America when it launches. It cited factors such as the size of the population – which will be the second largest market on the continent after New York – the number of brands competing, and the potential size of bonuses on offer to consumers.

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