Best of PRO This Week: UK Regs, Ongame's Sale and Advertising with ARJEL

Key Takeaways

UK and European Regulatory Philosophy Clash Exposed as ARJEL Partners With ARRP.
UKGC Chairman Takes Player Fund Protection to Consultation.
At the Time of Ongame’s Sale, Just 31% of Player Funds were Held in Cash.
EU Committee on Legal Affairs: For Gambling, Subsidiarity Trumps Solidarity.

Lead Features

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UK and European Regulatory Philosophy Clash Exposed as ARJEL Partners With ARRP

ARJEL and ARRP partner to provide French gaming industry advertising guidance. A short press release announcing the partnership between French regulator ARJEL and l’Autorité de Régulation Professionnelle de la Publicité (ARPP) exemplifies the clash between the UK and continental regulatory cultures.

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UKGC Chairman Takes Player Fund Protection to Consultation

Player fund protection, poker network regulation, blacklists, social gaming and light touch regulation all covered in UKGC Chairman speech. UK Gambling Commission Chairman Philip Graf has announced that the UKGC would hold a consultation on player funds protection later this year, ahead of regulatory reforms.

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At the Time of Ongame’s Sale, Just 31% of Player Funds were Held in Cash

A rare glimpse into acquisition financials shows the lack of player fund protection under certain regulations • New owner Amaya assures that player funds are now segregated The snapshot of Ongame financials presented in Amaya Gaming Group’s first quarter report show that, on the day of acquisition from bwin.party in November 2012, the site held only 31% of the cash required to cover player deposits.

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EU Committee on Legal Affairs: For Gambling, Subsidiarity Trumps Solidarity

EU Legal Committee backs member states’ gambling regulation against EU free trade rules. The EU Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) has issued its opinion on the final report issued by the Internal Markets Committee (IMCO), and has come down heavily in favor of nationally regulated gaming markets.

Exclusive News Articles

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UK Advertising Standards Authority Calls Foul on Sky Poker Bonus Banner Ad

SkyPoker’s “standard” bonus advert ruled to be misleading. The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled a Sky Poker advert misleading for failing to display that the bonus was subject to conditions.

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Hungarian Parliament Votes Gaming Act into Law

Hungary votes for expensive licensing regime which favors state lottery operator. By a vote of 235 to 69, the Hungarian parliament voted Wednesday to accept new gaming regulation which sets up expensive barriers to entry and privileged status for the existing state lottery provider.

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Isle of Man Minister Announces Five Year Strategy for Online Gaming Regulation

UK and EU regulatory threats to IoM to be dealt with by hard work and expansion into Asia. In replying to a parliamentary question, Isle of Man (IoM) Economic Development Minister John Shimmin informed the House of Keys that a “five year E-gaming Strategy, focusing on business diversification within the Island’s e-gaming sector, has now been developed in conjunction with the e-gaming sector.”

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Stiff Suitability Requirements Dissuade New Jersey Hopefuls

Despite lack of bad actor clause, European poker rooms face tough hurdles if partnerships are formed. Stringent suitability requirements that await applicants for online gaming licenses in New Jersey are dissuading many big European brands from forming partnerships, pokerfuse PRO has learned.

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Playtech Shares Fall 7% Following Sale of Sportech Stake

Investors saw Sportech as a backdoor into the US market. Last week iPoker-owner Playtech divested itself of its 10% shareholding in gaming operator Sportech and CEO Mor Weitzer has relinquished his seat on the board of directors.

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Bodog President Steps Down, Wants to Try Recreational Poker Model in the US

Jonas Ödman departs after three years at the top of BPN. Jonas Ödman, President of the Bodog Poker Network, announced Tuesday his resignation from the position, with the goal of spreading his controversial “Recreational Poker Model” to the yet-to-be-regulated California online poker market.

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Bally Technologies Selects Optimal Payments for Online Financial Services

Online gaming platform provider Bally Technologies has reached an agreement with online payment processor Optimal Payments to provide payment related services for Bally Tech’s online gaming customers.

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Czech Republic Makes €100m Fumble in Gambling Legislation

Court ruling could cost Czech Government and give impetus to new gaming legislation. Having won its case against the Czech Government, Casino Kartác Group will seek up to €100m in damages for obeying laws which excluded it from the online market.

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PokerStars, Full Tilt, Party Among 28 Additions to Bulgarian Blacklist

The Bulgarian State Gambling Commission adds major online poker brands to its domain blacklist. The Bulgarian State Gambling Commission (SGC) has blacklisted a further 28 sites, including PokerStars, Full Tilt, William Hill, Betsafe and PartyPoker.

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Bet365 Profits Up 54% to £179m

Bumper profits take the Coates family closer to being the UK’s first gaming billionaires. Stoke-on-Trent-based Bet365 has announced annual pretax profits up 54% to £179m.

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French Operators Plead with ARJEL to Change Taxation

Operators have sent a letter to the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, requesting that tax and gaming regulations be changed.

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Greece Told to Change Plans for OPAP Monopoly

The EU gives Greece one month to change plans that would give OPAP a monopoly over almost all online gambling. The EU has ordered Greece to delay until September its plan to implement proposals which would give OPAP a monopoly on online games that are not “casino-type games of chance.”

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Best of PRO This Week: UK Regs, Ongame’s Sale and Advertising with ARJEL