Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/212 adds on AML/FTP “high-risk third countries“

At the beginning of March the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/212 of 13 December 2017 came into force. Through this amendment, the European Commission added Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and Tunisia to the list of „high-risk third countries“.

The EC ́s Recommendation on Consumer Protection

Monopolies and gambling. For some, they are natural partners. For others, the idea that the organization of gambling should be restricted to monopolies, State or oth- erwise, is completely incomprehensible. It is news to no one that the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) has been the battleground for this debate, mainly arising out of preliminary references from national courts…

The General Court of the EU upholds the Danish tax regime for online gambling

The General Court of the EU issued a ruling at first instance in the Danish State aid case (T-601/11 Dansk Automat Brancheforening v. Commission & T-615/11 Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus v Commission) and upheld the European Commission’s decision, confirming that the Danish regime instituting a lower tax for online gambling…

The RGA calls for the Commission recommendation on consumer protection to spur further opening of markets across the EU

The EC today made a number of recommendations that are designed to help Member States provide a high level of consumer protection for online gamblers. These measures follow the adoption of the Action Plan on Online Gambling in October 2012, which aimed to pave the way for a comprehensive framework on…

European Commission Study Challenges Sports Betting Right

Brussels, 15th May 2014: The regulated betting industry welcomes the main findings of a European Commission funded study on sports organisers’ rights in the European Union. The study (see link) finds that there is no legal basis nor rationale for an EU-wide right to consent to bets (i.e. “sports betting right”).

European Parliament votes on new Anti-Money laundering directive

Today, the European Parliament adopted amendments to the European Commission’s proposal for a new Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD). The RGA strongly supports the objectives of the new Directive, but is disappointed that online gambling has been singled out as the one form of gambling where due diligence measures…

Gambling Laws: European Commission takes action against Member States‘ lack of Compliance with EU Law

Today, the European Commission announced that it has formally opened a series of infringement proceedings against a number of EU Member States whose laws on gambling appear to be in breach of the rules of the internal market. In doing so, the Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Sweden which had…

Greece: RGA calls for Commissioner Barnier to Act

The Remote Gambling Association has written to the European Commissioner to demand that he acts to prevent anti-competitive reforms to Greek gambling law. The opening of the Greek online gambling market is under threat from amendments which will result in OPAP being gifted an illegal online monopoly against European Union law.

State aid: Horserace betting levies must be fully compliant with EU state aid rules

Brussels, 19 June 2013: The industry bodies representing the leading European online betting operators are concerned about today’s European Commission decision (C 34/10) that confirms a French levy to fund ‘the improvement of the equine species and the promotion of horse breeding’ is in line with EU state aid rules.

Remote gambling industry challenges Greek protectionist law

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) have today filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding the regulations recently notified by the Greek State which restrict the online gambling market. The complaint details a range of non-EU compliant barriers to new market entrants and requests that the Commission…

European Commission needs to act to uphold EU law

The European Commission has been challenged by the Remote Gambling Association to intervene to prevent the Greek Government’s plan to extend OPAP’s land based monopoly to online gambling products. The Greek Government has notified the European Commission that it will amend its existing gambling law so that OPAP’s offline monopoly on gambling products is extended to online products…

Sports, Betting, Online Poker & Co. – BGH Refers German Gambling Regulations to the ECJ

Not only the Commission, but also the BGH now has its doubts regarding the German gambling system. Does the special act in Schleswig-Holstein on its own render void the inter-state treaty between the other federal states? And what happens now that the new Schleswig-Holstein government has decided to join the inter-state treaty after all?

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