Regulation round-up 22 September 2015
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (16 September to 22 September 2015)
California opens door to online sports betting
Revised bill tabled on the last day of the state’s legislative session seeking to allow card rooms, tribes and race tracks to offer online sports betting
California has made the first tentative steps towards legalising online sports betting within its borders following the introduction of a bill seeking to legalise and regulate the sector, a move that has the potential to transform the US egaming market.
Assemblyman Adam Gray tabled a revised bill, seen by eGaming Review, under which the state’s card rooms, tribal casinos and race tracks would be allowed to operate sportsbooks via telephone, computer or “other method of electronic wagering communication”.
If passed into law, the bill – AB 1441 – would enact the California Interactive Sports Wagering Consumer Protection Act, with eligible operators required to apply to the California Gambling Control Commission for an online sports betting licence.
Operators would have to pay an unspecified annual licence fee to the State Department of Public Health for deposit in the Gambling Addiction Program Fund, as well as taxes based on a to-be-decided percentage of total sportsbook win.
Gambling Commission to decide on bet-on-lottery reform
The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has given the Gambling Commission the go-ahead to advise the government on changes to rules which govern the offer of online lottery products.
In a government response to a report published in March by the DCMS select committee, the government said the Commission should advise on three proposed measures, adding that it “agrees that public transparency and reducing customer confusion is important”.
eGaming Review understands the Commission is currently exploring three options, which were proposed by Camelot, but has yet to commit to one.
Seven days in regulation:
Brazil president reconsiders sports betting veto
Plans to regulate sports betting in Brazil were given renewed hope last week when a fresh bill was introduced into Congress and reports that President Dilma Rousseff may reconsider her decision to veto a previous bill.
The prospect of regulated sports betting market in Brazil looked to have suffered a decisive setback when the deadline to overturn Rousseff’s veto expired earlier this month, but a backlog in Congressional hearings means the debate on the veto will now take place today (Tuesday).
Meanwhile Congressman Otto Alencar filed a new bill of law which also aims to liberalise and regulating the country’s gambling industry.
Ireland-facing operators dealt new advertising restrictions
The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) is to introduce greater restrictions on gambling advertisements, outlawing spots which portray gambling as an escape from personal problems or an answer to financial issues.
For the first time the ASAI has included a dedicated a section to gambling in the latest edition of its code, which is due to come into force on 1 March 2016. Among the marketing tactics prohibited are any claims that gambling is a rite of passage or attempts to link it to sexual success.
It also bans adverts which suggest gambling is “an escape from personal, professional or educational problems such as loneliness or depression”.
Fruity King Twitter ad “offensive”, says ASA
Mobile casino operator Fruity King has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over an “offensive” promoted Tweet it ran on Twitter.
The promoted Tweet featured text that stated: “Arsene Whinger has suffered more abuse from Arsenal fans over the last nine years than a Yemeni child slave in Saudi Arabia. FA-Cup.”
One complainant said they objected to the use of an analogy relating international child abuse to football, and challenged whether the ad was offensive.
Svenska Spel renews calls for offshore advertising crackdown
Svenska Spel has called for tougher enforcement of Sweden’s ban on unlicensed gambling advertising claiming foreign operators have a stranglehold on the top television advertising spots.
All advertising from foreign operators is prohibited in Sweden, although a legal loophole makes it tough for criminal actions to be brought against firms which are not based within the country.
It is estimated around 75% of the country’s total egaming marketing spend comes from offshore operators, and Svenska Spel’s head of sponsorship Håkan Solberg told eGR the operator can no longer compete financially for the best spots.