Best of PRO This Week: Greek Withholding Tax, Money Laundering and EU Compliance

Key Takeaways

The EU Commission Finally Restarts Infringement Proceedings.
New Internet Gambling Tax Bill Has “0% Chance”.
Why a First Mover Advantage in New Jersey Won’t Last Long.
Does Online Gaming Really Pose “A Strategic National Threat?”.

Lead Features

The EU Commission Finally Restarts Infringement Proceedings

Sweden gets a two month deadline to respond, but Finland’s amended laws get it off the hook. After a long hiatus, the European Commission has finally started to act on the issue of member state compliance with EU treaties regarding their national gambling laws. It has “[requested] Member States comply with EU law when regulating gambling services,” according to Wednesday’s press release.

New Internet Gambling Tax Bill Has “0% Chance”

Bill would tax operators 12% of deposits, with 8% going to the tribe or state where the depositor was located. A bill recently introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) that would establish a 12% tax on deposits to internet gaming sites has been given a “0% chance” of making it out of committee by US legislative tracking website Govtrack.US.

Why a First Mover Advantage in New Jersey Won’t Last Long

WSOP entered the Nevada market over four months late, and became #1 within six weeks—an important lesson for those at the starting blocks in New Jersey. The online poker traffic in the regulated Nevada market, where WSOP Nevada recently overtook Ultimate Poker (UP), is a clear demonstration that first-mover advantage in a new market might not be as valuable as some expect.

Does Online Gaming Really Pose “A Strategic National Threat?”

Tampa Bay article ignores the evidence that national regulation negates the minimal risk of money laundering in online gaming. A column in the Tampa Bay Times argued earlier this month that newly legalized gambling in the US is a “strategic national threat,” asserting: “There is now the threat from online criminal activity, money laundering and, potentially, even al-Qaida funding.”

Exclusive News Articles

PokerStars, Full Tilt Move Greek Players to dot-GR, Introduce 15% Daily Withholding Tax

PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker will withhold a daily tax on Greek players’ winnings above €100. In a surprise act of attempted compliance with Greek gaming laws, Rational Group is moving its Greek online poker players to dot-GR websites, and introducing a daily withholding tax on winnings above €100.

Betclic Everest CEO Wants France to Allow Online Casinos

A tough tax environment and consumer protection motivations provide the argument for online casino games to be added to the French market. Isabelle Andres, CEO of the Betclic Everest Group, has called for French gaming law changes to allow operators to offer online casino games.

EuroPartners iPoker Sites Withdraw From Finland, Netherlands

Titan Poker and Mansion Poker are expected to close to Finnish players on December 12. Titan Poker players from Finland have received emails informing them that the site will no longer be accessible from December 12. The market withdrawal is also understood to have affected players from the Netherlands.

UK Advertising Standards Agency Upholds 888 Ad Complaint Brought by Rational Group

Claiming its casino VIP program is the “best around” is misleading, rules ASA. 888’s web banners claiming its casino VIP program was the “best around” and had the “best promotions anywhere” were misleading and unsubstantiated, The UK Advertising Standards Agency (AGA) has ruled.

AGA Responds Diplomatically To Sheldon Adelson

While welcoming divergent views, the AGA says that prohibition of online gambling is not the answer. In a response to Sheldon Adelson’s plans to lobby for a federal ban on online gaming, the President and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA) has issued a statement of opposition.

Betcris.com Removed from Bulgarian Blacklist

The SGC has removed betCRIS from its blacklist of gaming sites, but warned that it is still not allowed to target Bulgarian customers. The Bulgarian State Gambling Commission (SGC) has published its decision to remove betcris.com from the official blacklist.

ARJEL Releases the Detail Behind Poker’s Largest Decline for the Second Quarter in a Row

Young players and recreational players lead the exodus from French online poker. French Regulator ARJEL’s Q3 report, released last month, showed that cash game revenues fell 21% against the same quarter last year. A subsequent publication now shines further light on the data behind the headline numbers.

South Australia Moves Forward on Harm Minimization

The introduction of new harm minimization measures will slowly pave the way towards federal regulation of online poker in Australia. The state of South Australia has passed the Statutes Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2013 (SA) which aims to cut the number of problem gamblers by reducing the risks of gambling environments.

Sheriff Gaming Execs Detained on Money Laundering Charges

International cooperation led to the arrest of four men charged with laundering €110m through their gambling operations. The Netherlands regulator Kanspellautoriteit has announced that four men have been arrested in an investigation “into the large-scale laundering of profits” from illegal online gambling in the Dutch market.

UKGC Chairman Calls on Industry to Take the Lead in Safe Gambling

Philip Graf says the industry has failed to give the public confidence that it is committed to a safe gambling environment. UK Gambling Commission Chairman Philip Graf has called on the industry to change public perceptions by being more pro-active in mitigating gambling risks.

LGA Must “Re-Invent Itself” and Reform, Says New Chairman

New exec sets out “ambitious” agenda to grow igaming industry. Speaking at the Malta iGaming Seminar, newly-appointed LGA Executive Chairman Joseph Cuschieri stated that the regulatory body must re-invent itself if it is to drive growth in the online gaming sector over the next decade.

Organization of State Lawmakers Seeks Standardization of Gaming Laws

The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States views common standards on issues such as problem gambling as “much-needed” precursors to interstate compacts. The National Council of Legislators From Gaming States (NCLGS) has announced its intentions to develop a policy framework to assist individual states looking to enter into multi-state agreements with regards to internet gambling.

Further Delays for Online Sports Betting Licenses in Germany

Applicants for federal online sports betting licenses in Germany have been informed that none of the applicants meet minimum requirements necessary to be granted a license.