Authorities will work together with online gambling companies licensed in Malta, to reduce the impact of Britain’s latest policies.

Now that the new British gambling laws have come into force, imposing an additional license fee and – starting December 1 – a 15% point of consumption tax on overseas operators, authorities in Malta have promised to help reduce the financial blow for locally-licensed gambling companies.

During a seminar organized in preparation for the Malta iGaming Summit, Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera promised that the government will work together with the local internet gaming industry to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

The British Government has recently introduced new laws for the gambling sector. Overseas companies are now required to obtain a UK licensed if they want to cater to British players. In addition, starting December 1 companies will have to pay more taxes to the UK Government.

Malta Independent: Government ready to help online gaming sector face overseas threats

In his speech, Herrera noted that the Lotteries and Gaming Authority in Malta has improved its ties with its British counterpart, but he added that he was disappointed to hear about the measures imposed by the UK Government.

“In our opinion, such steps may not only go against the principal guarantees of the EU treaties but could also lead to a further fragmentation of the sector, to the detriment of consumers,” he told those present at the seminar.

Nevertheless, the new laws have come into force, so the parliamentary secretary announced that the Government in Malta would strive to protect its gambling industry, even on an international level.

“We are ready to work hand in hand with operators to reduce, as much as we can, the impact that such legislation can have. Malta is proud of the regulations it provides to the sector, through which consumers are protected,” he added.

MaltaChamber.org: Parliamentary Secretary Hon Dr José Herrera assures the Malta Chamber’s Remote Gaming Business Section that Malta will “implement attractive measures to consolidate the industry” to make Malta “the number one jurisdiction in the world”

At a business breakfast hosted by the Remote Gaming Business Section (RGBS) within The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry this July, Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera presented a few projects and initiatives of the Remote Gaming Executive Committee.

According to Herrera, 52% of all gaming income in 2013 was generated by the remote betting industry. Online gambling news also reported that the industry accounts for 12% of Malta’s GDP, employing more than 8,000 people. The Parliamentary Secretary said authorities would review the current regulations and introduce changes to make Malta a centre of excellence within the industry.

RGBS Chairman George Debrincat said: “I am delighted that we have been able to create a forum which enables us to have a positive dialogue with all the stakeholders and we are grateful to the Chamber and to Malta Chamber President Mr David Curmi for their support.”

“Our industry is part of the business mainstream in the Maltese Islands, important for jobs and economic contribution as well as for the world-class skills and infrastructures that are naturally attendant with it. For Malta to remain ahead of its counterparts, we all need to pull together, and that is part of what the RGBS is working on.”

Malta Today: Malta staunchly opposed to ‘unnecessary’ regulation of gaming industry

Malta has taken a stand against the new regulations announced by the British Government. In a speech at the EY Gaming Tax Seminar, Parliamentary secretary for competitiveness and economic growth Jose Herrera suggested that the UK’s restrictions on overseas gambling operators are “beyond what is necessary”.

For the past years, British players were free to access any number of licensed gambling sites, whether they were operated from within UK borders or from abroad. But as of November 1, companies that want to cater to local players must obtain an additional licensed from the UK Gambling Commission, pay a new license fee and – from December 1 – pay additional taxes too.

“Malta’s regulation is a strong one, based on years of experience,” Herrera said at the seminar. “We will continue to maintain that restrictions, imposed beyond what is necessary, are contrary to the principles guaranteed by the Treaties of the European Union.

“Malta has always been of the view that such a national approach to an international industry leads to fragmentation of the market, which is ultimately detrimental to the industry itself as well as consumers.

“Malta is doing everything in its power to protect this industry at an international level. We are here to listen to the industry. There must be compliance with established principles and law, but we constantly work to resist moves detrimental to business,” he added.

The Lotteries and Gaming Authority has issued 401 licenses this year, a 25% increase from last year’s 321 permits. The number of registered companies has also increased by 17%, from 220 last year to 258 at present.

The regulator has taken steps to make the licensing process faster. Processing time has been reduced by 50%. A company can now obtain a remote gambling license in about two and a half months.

“Malta is a major player in the global remote gaming industry. Our solid reputation has been instrumental in bringing about growth. And we will continue to be responsive to the needs of the industry,” Herrera maintained.

Authorities will work together with online gambling companies licensed in Malta, to reduce the impact of Britain’s latest policies.

Now that the new British gambling laws have come into force, imposing an additional license fee and – starting December 1 – a 15% point of consumption tax on overseas operators, authorities in Malta have promised to help reduce the financial blow for locally-licensed gambling companies.

During a seminar organized in preparation for the Malta iGaming Summit, Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera promised that the government will work together with the local internet gaming industry to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

The British Government has recently introduced new laws for the gambling sector. Overseas companies are now required to obtain a UK licensed if they want to cater to British players. In addition, starting December 1 companies will have to pay more taxes to the UK Government.

Malta Independent: Government ready to help online gaming sector face overseas threats

In his speech, Herrera noted that the Lotteries and Gaming Authority in Malta has improved its ties with its British counterpart, but he added that he was disappointed to hear about the measures imposed by the UK Government.

“In our opinion, such steps may not only go against the principal guarantees of the EU treaties but could also lead to a further fragmentation of the sector, to the detriment of consumers,” he told those present at the seminar.

Nevertheless, the new laws have come into force, so the parliamentary secretary announced that the Government in Malta would strive to protect its gambling industry, even on an international level.

“We are ready to work hand in hand with operators to reduce, as much as we can, the impact that such legislation can have. Malta is proud of the regulations it provides to the sector, through which consumers are protected,” he added.

MaltaChamber.org: Parliamentary Secretary Hon Dr José Herrera assures the Malta Chamber’s Remote Gaming Business Section that Malta will “implement attractive measures to consolidate the industry” to make Malta “the number one jurisdiction in the world”

At a business breakfast hosted by the Remote Gaming Business Section (RGBS) within The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry this July, Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera presented a few projects and initiatives of the Remote Gaming Executive Committee.

According to Herrera, 52% of all gaming income in 2013 was generated by the remote betting industry. Online gambling news also reported that the industry accounts for 12% of Malta’s GDP, employing more than 8,000 people. The Parliamentary Secretary said authorities would review the current regulations and introduce changes to make Malta a centre of excellence within the industry.

RGBS Chairman George Debrincat said: “I am delighted that we have been able to create a forum which enables us to have a positive dialogue with all the stakeholders and we are grateful to the Chamber and to Malta Chamber President Mr David Curmi for their support.”

“Our industry is part of the business mainstream in the Maltese Islands, important for jobs and economic contribution as well as for the world-class skills and infrastructures that are naturally attendant with it. For Malta to remain ahead of its counterparts, we all need to pull together, and that is part of what the RGBS is working on.”

Malta Today: Malta staunchly opposed to ‘unnecessary’ regulation of gaming industry

Malta has taken a stand against the new regulations announced by the British Government. In a speech at the EY Gaming Tax Seminar, Parliamentary secretary for competitiveness and economic growth Jose Herrera suggested that the UK’s restrictions on overseas gambling operators are “beyond what is necessary”.

For the past years, British players were free to access any number of licensed gambling sites, whether they were operated from within UK borders or from abroad. But as of November 1, companies that want to cater to local players must obtain an additional licensed from the UK Gambling Commission, pay a new license fee and – from December 1 – pay additional taxes too.

“Malta’s regulation is a strong one, based on years of experience,” Herrera said at the seminar. “We will continue to maintain that restrictions, imposed beyond what is necessary, are contrary to the principles guaranteed by the Treaties of the European Union.

“Malta has always been of the view that such a national approach to an international industry leads to fragmentation of the market, which is ultimately detrimental to the industry itself as well as consumers.

“Malta is doing everything in its power to protect this industry at an international level. We are here to listen to the industry. There must be compliance with established principles and law, but we constantly work to resist moves detrimental to business,” he added.

The Lotteries and Gaming Authority has issued 401 licenses this year, a 25% increase from last year’s 321 permits. The number of registered companies has also increased by 17%, from 220 last year to 258 at present.

The regulator has taken steps to make the licensing process faster. Processing time has been reduced by 50%. A company can now obtain a remote gambling license in about two and a half months.

“Malta is a major player in the global remote gaming industry. Our solid reputation has been instrumental in bringing about growth. And we will continue to be responsive to the needs of the industry,” Herrera maintained.

In Berlin Germans celebrated the end of the cold war and the collapse of the Berlin Wall that for so long divided their city. Built by the communist authorities in 1961 to stop people fleeing to the west it collapsed in 1989 in triumphant scenes flashed around the world. To celebrate events were held across the city with 8,000 white balloons released along the length of the wall, only a few miles of which remains, to remember the numerous people who died trying to escape the east during the cold war. The Brandenburg Gate saw the biggest party with Peter Gabriel playing David Bowie’s “Heroes” to a massive crowd.

Massive crowds were not in evidence during the US midterm elections on Tuesday where a scant 36.5% of the voting public bothered to actually vote. This coupled with the Republican stoked unpopularity of President Obama saw the Democratic Party take a decisive beating at the ballot box. As the results rolled in it became apparent there was a lot of work to do before 2016 if they wish to retain the White House. Republicans celebrated their victory and new control over the Senate but insisted they would be working with the President in the final two years of his presidency, a sentiment echoed by Obama. And if you believe that…

Talking of unbelievable the new head of GCHQ, the British equivalent of the NSA, Robert Hannigan has called on tech giants to cooperate more closely with the intelligence services in the fight against extremists and terrorism. Apparently our all having social media sites and the ability to encrypt our communications is making his job a little bit too difficult, which is ironic since most of us only started using encryption after we found out Mr. Hannigan and his friends were listening in on everything we said online. In an almost pleading article for the Financial Times he called for a “mature debate” on privacy, security and civil liberties. Yeah. Good luck with that, Bob.

In sports the Formula 1 drivers championship was still neck and neck as Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton went into the Brazilian Grand Prix. In an action packed race that saw Hamilton spin off at one point, the two Mercedes drivers romped home in first and second place with the German Rosberg winning cutting Hamilton’s championship lead to just 17 points with 50 available in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Who’ll win that and take the season? Find out in our daily news pages but before you do that check out the stories that hit our headlines last week.

1. Apparently, the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is so profitable that two rival groups of the tribe who owns it are fighting over it with guns and firearms, just like in the Wild West.

2. Macau is in big trouble. With VIP customers avoiding the gambling hub due to China’s crackdown on corruption, the city’s casinos are posting huge drops in profit.

3. After pumping millions into their pro-casino campaign and dangling thousands of jobs in front of Massachusetts voters, Wynn, MGM and Penn National finally got what they wanted: the majority vote allowing them to move ahead with projects in the state.

4. As if making online operators pay extra to gain access to British players wasn’t enough, the UK Gambling Commission has also put restrictions on sports sponsorships.

5. Marriage is hard and David and Sam Mackie know it only too well. In two and a half years of marriage, they didn’t even get a chance to go on a honeymoon! Well luck was on their side last week, when they won a trip to Australia and GBP1 million.

6. After Macau, it is now Singapore’s turn to bleed because of China’s crackdown on corruption, which has chased away VIP customers. While gambling news talk aboutpainful losses in casino revenues, no one is bothering to figure out what these high-rollers are actually hiding from.

7. Reports suggested that British driver Lewis Hamilton could potentially suffer a similar fate at the Interlagos circuit as in previous years.

Meanwhile Swedish scientists have shown human stem cells can be used to treat the effects of Parkinson’s Disease with a study displaying an alleviation or reversal of the brain damaged caused. Hailed as a break-through this test on rats may lead to clinical trials on humans by 2017, and last week the drummer from AC/DC was charged with attempting to arrange a murder amongst other things, and whilst those charges were dropped he still faces up to seven years for making threats to kill, a charge his lawyer says will be contested, will he get off? Find out in our daily news pages.

In Berlin Germans celebrated the end of the cold war and the collapse of the Berlin Wall that for so long divided their city. Built by the communist authorities in 1961 to stop people fleeing to the west it collapsed in 1989 in triumphant scenes flashed around the world. To celebrate events were held across the city with 8,000 white balloons released along the length of the wall, only a few miles of which remains, to remember the numerous people who died trying to escape the east during the cold war. The Brandenburg Gate saw the biggest party with Peter Gabriel playing David Bowie’s “Heroes” to a massive crowd.

Massive crowds were not in evidence during the US midterm elections on Tuesday where a scant 36.5% of the voting public bothered to actually vote. This coupled with the Republican stoked unpopularity of President Obama saw the Democratic Party take a decisive beating at the ballot box. As the results rolled in it became apparent there was a lot of work to do before 2016 if they wish to retain the White House. Republicans celebrated their victory and new control over the Senate but insisted they would be working with the President in the final two years of his presidency, a sentiment echoed by Obama. And if you believe that…

Talking of unbelievable the new head of GCHQ, the British equivalent of the NSA, Robert Hannigan has called on tech giants to cooperate more closely with the intelligence services in the fight against extremists and terrorism. Apparently our all having social media sites and the ability to encrypt our communications is making his job a little bit too difficult, which is ironic since most of us only started using encryption after we found out Mr. Hannigan and his friends were listening in on everything we said online. In an almost pleading article for the Financial Times he called for a “mature debate” on privacy, security and civil liberties. Yeah. Good luck with that, Bob.

In sports the Formula 1 drivers championship was still neck and neck as Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton went into the Brazilian Grand Prix. In an action packed race that saw Hamilton spin off at one point, the two Mercedes drivers romped home in first and second place with the German Rosberg winning cutting Hamilton’s championship lead to just 17 points with 50 available in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Who’ll win that and take the season? Find out in our daily news pages but before you do that check out the stories that hit our headlines last week.

1. Apparently, the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is so profitable that two rival groups of the tribe who owns it are fighting over it with guns and firearms, just like in the Wild West.

2. Macau is in big trouble. With VIP customers avoiding the gambling hub due to China’s crackdown on corruption, the city’s casinos are posting huge drops in profit.

3. After pumping millions into their pro-casino campaign and dangling thousands of jobs in front of Massachusetts voters, Wynn, MGM and Penn National finally got what they wanted: the majority vote allowing them to move ahead with projects in the state.

4. As if making online operators pay extra to gain access to British players wasn’t enough, the UK Gambling Commission has also put restrictions on sports sponsorships.

5. Marriage is hard and David and Sam Mackie know it only too well. In two and a half years of marriage, they didn’t even get a chance to go on a honeymoon! Well luck was on their side last week, when they won a trip to Australia and GBP1 million.

6. After Macau, it is now Singapore’s turn to bleed because of China’s crackdown on corruption, which has chased away VIP customers. While gambling news talk aboutpainful losses in casino revenues, no one is bothering to figure out what these high-rollers are actually hiding from.

7. Reports suggested that British driver Lewis Hamilton could potentially suffer a similar fate at the Interlagos circuit as in previous years.

Meanwhile Swedish scientists have shown human stem cells can be used to treat the effects of Parkinson’s Disease with a study displaying an alleviation or reversal of the brain damaged caused. Hailed as a break-through this test on rats may lead to clinical trials on humans by 2017, and last week the drummer from AC/DC was charged with attempting to arrange a murder amongst other things, and whilst those charges were dropped he still faces up to seven years for making threats to kill, a charge his lawyer says will be contested, will he get off? Find out in our daily news pages.

Sponsorships offered by betting companies without a UK license must come with a disclaimer.

After the court rejected the Gibraltar Betting and Gambling Association’s request to overturn new UK gambling laws, authorities are now going after British sports clubs and teams that closed sponsorship agreements with unlicensed betting companies.

The UK Gambling Commission is now asking that all adverts promoting operators without a British permit include a message saying their services are not available for UK players. Since the regulator did not include any clear instructions in its letter to sports governing bodies, clubs and teams are not sure how to approach the issue.

The new rules created a lot of confusion. Should logos on posters or flyers include an asterisk to a disclaimer? Do they need to mention this on players’ T-shirts too? For now, these questions remain unanswered.

PokerNews: UK Gambling Commission Warns Sports Teams About Deals with Unlicensed Operators

Nick Tofiluk, the director of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), sent out a letter to all sports governing bodies in the country, to warn them about the dangers of closing sponsorship deals with betting companies that did not apply for a UK license, as requested by the new regulations which came into force on November 1.

“You may be aware that all remote gambling operators selling into the British market, whether based here or abroad, will be required to hold a Gambling Commission license to transact with British based consumers,” Tofiluk wrote.

“We are aware that in some cases commercial partnership arrangements (which include sponsorship) are in place between sports clubs or bodies and remote gambling operators who do not hold a Commission license,” he continued.

In its letter, the regulatory body adopted a firm position on the matter, stating: “Those operators cannot in our view advertise their betting services without both making it clear in the product as advertised and in reality that betting is not available to those in Britain.”

As a consequence, such adverts will have to be accompanied by a disclaimer, and sports teams that don’t follow these rules risk being prosecuted.

“This letter seeks to draw to your attention the risks to sports clubs and bodies of maintaining such relationships”, the letter said, clarifying that those “risks” include committing an offence by breaking the law, as well as jeopardizing the state’s efforts to combat match fixing and betting corruption.

OutLaw.com: Regulator’s approach risks future of British sport sponsorship deals with offshore gambling providers, say experts

Law experts say the new guidance issued by the UK Gambling Commission could complicate things for sports clubs and teams looking to close shirt sponsorship deals with foreign-based betting companies.

Gambling law specialist Susan Biddle of Pinsent Masons, the firm behind Out-Law.com said she could “foresee practical problems if the requirement that the prohibition on play by British consumers has to be made ‘clear in the product as advertised’ means the prohibition has to be made clear as part of the advertisement or sponsorship itself.”

“For example, would players’ shirts, replica shirts and stadium boards which carry a sponsor’s logo each have to include an asterisk to a disclaimer somewhere else on the shirt or board?” she asked.

“Such a requirement would seem in practice to mean that sponsorship or other advertising by unlicensed offshore remote gambling operators will not be possible even if as a matter of practice they can achieve 100% successful blocking of British consumers,” the lawyer explained.

GamingZion: New British Gambling Laws Come into Force

Despite all the controversy, the new British gambling laws came into force on November 1, after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association’s (GBGA) attempt to overturn the Government’s decision in court failed last month.

The new regulations and the upcoming 15% point on consumption tax coming this December have scared away some betting companies, who preferred to withdraw from the British market.

As of November 1, online gamblers can bet on sports scores using websites that have received approval for a continuation license. Remote operators have to apply for UK permits and pay an additional tax, regardless of where they’re located and even if they already hold a valid license in another jurisdiction.
“The Government announced that this law was introduced with the express intention of addressing concerns it said it had about the protection of consumers. The measures introduced through this Act are neither reasonable nor proportionate to achieving that goal and are likely to have adverse consequences for consumers,” the GBGA wrote in a statement, a few months ago.

The introduction of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 will be followed by an increase in taxes. Starting December 1, the Government is changing its rules for General Betting Duty (GBD), Pool Betting Duty (PBD), and Remote Gaming Duty (RGD). The changes will affect both offshore casino and sportsbook operators, as well as betting shops across the country.

According to the UK Government’s website: “Gambling activities are currently taxed on a ‘place of supply’ basis. This means that if you’re supplying gambling from the UK, you pay tax on all your gross gambling profits. Operators supplying UK customers from outside the UK pay no UK gambling taxes.”

Sponsorships offered by betting companies without a UK license must come with a disclaimer.

After the court rejected the Gibraltar Betting and Gambling Association’s request to overturn new UK gambling laws, authorities are now going after British sports clubs and teams that closed sponsorship agreements with unlicensed betting companies.

The UK Gambling Commission is now asking that all adverts promoting operators without a British permit include a message saying their services are not available for UK players. Since the regulator did not include any clear instructions in its letter to sports governing bodies, clubs and teams are not sure how to approach the issue.

The new rules created a lot of confusion. Should logos on posters or flyers include an asterisk to a disclaimer? Do they need to mention this on players’ T-shirts too? For now, these questions remain unanswered.

PokerNews: UK Gambling Commission Warns Sports Teams About Deals with Unlicensed Operators

Nick Tofiluk, the director of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), sent out a letter to all sports governing bodies in the country, to warn them about the dangers of closing sponsorship deals with betting companies that did not apply for a UK license, as requested by the new regulations which came into force on November 1.

“You may be aware that all remote gambling operators selling into the British market, whether based here or abroad, will be required to hold a Gambling Commission license to transact with British based consumers,” Tofiluk wrote.

“We are aware that in some cases commercial partnership arrangements (which include sponsorship) are in place between sports clubs or bodies and remote gambling operators who do not hold a Commission license,” he continued.

In its letter, the regulatory body adopted a firm position on the matter, stating: “Those operators cannot in our view advertise their betting services without both making it clear in the product as advertised and in reality that betting is not available to those in Britain.”

As a consequence, such adverts will have to be accompanied by a disclaimer, and sports teams that don’t follow these rules risk being prosecuted.

“This letter seeks to draw to your attention the risks to sports clubs and bodies of maintaining such relationships”, the letter said, clarifying that those “risks” include committing an offence by breaking the law, as well as jeopardizing the state’s efforts to combat match fixing and betting corruption.

OutLaw.com: Regulator’s approach risks future of British sport sponsorship deals with offshore gambling providers, say experts

Law experts say the new guidance issued by the UK Gambling Commission could complicate things for sports clubs and teams looking to close shirt sponsorship deals with foreign-based betting companies.

Gambling law specialist Susan Biddle of Pinsent Masons, the firm behind Out-Law.com said she could “foresee practical problems if the requirement that the prohibition on play by British consumers has to be made ‘clear in the product as advertised’ means the prohibition has to be made clear as part of the advertisement or sponsorship itself.”

“For example, would players’ shirts, replica shirts and stadium boards which carry a sponsor’s logo each have to include an asterisk to a disclaimer somewhere else on the shirt or board?” she asked.

“Such a requirement would seem in practice to mean that sponsorship or other advertising by unlicensed offshore remote gambling operators will not be possible even if as a matter of practice they can achieve 100% successful blocking of British consumers,” the lawyer explained.

GamingZion: New British Gambling Laws Come into Force

Despite all the controversy, the new British gambling laws came into force on November 1, after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association’s (GBGA) attempt to overturn the Government’s decision in court failed last month.

The new regulations and the upcoming 15% point on consumption tax coming this December have scared away some betting companies, who preferred to withdraw from the British market.

As of November 1, online gamblers can bet on sports scores using websites that have received approval for a continuation license. Remote operators have to apply for UK permits and pay an additional tax, regardless of where they’re located and even if they already hold a valid license in another jurisdiction.
“The Government announced that this law was introduced with the express intention of addressing concerns it said it had about the protection of consumers. The measures introduced through this Act are neither reasonable nor proportionate to achieving that goal and are likely to have adverse consequences for consumers,” the GBGA wrote in a statement, a few months ago.

The introduction of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 will be followed by an increase in taxes. Starting December 1, the Government is changing its rules for General Betting Duty (GBD), Pool Betting Duty (PBD), and Remote Gaming Duty (RGD). The changes will affect both offshore casino and sportsbook operators, as well as betting shops across the country.

According to the UK Government’s website: “Gambling activities are currently taxed on a ‘place of supply’ basis. This means that if you’re supplying gambling from the UK, you pay tax on all your gross gambling profits. Operators supplying UK customers from outside the UK pay no UK gambling taxes.”

The UK Government will move forward with its plan to tax remote gambling companies who cater to British players.

The court has given the British Government the green light to implement its new gambling laws. The decision comes after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association challenged the government’s new licensing and taxation policies in court, hoping to receive approval to continue catering to British players remotely, without actually paying taxes in the UK.

For several years now, top gambling operators – including big names like William Hill, Ladbrokes or bet365 – have been running their online casinos and betting services from places like Gibraltar, Malta or Isle of Man. These offshore jurisdictions have much lower taxes than the UK, allowing gambling companies to pocket millions of pounds that would normally go to the British government.

The industry has been preparing for the big tax change, which is expected to cost it around GBP300 million a year, but the move has also caused share prices to drop. British bookmaker William Hill saw its shares fall 3.3%, while Ladbrokes shares dropped more than 4% following the court’s decision.

Reuters: RPT- Court clears Britain to take tighter control of online gambling

In order to tighten controls on the online betting industry, the British Government will require all internet gambling companies to obtain a license from the UK Gambling Commission before providing their services on the local market.

With the new license comes an additional 15% tax on online profits made from bets placed by UK-based customers, which is scheduled to come into force on December 1. As of March 2015, bookmakers will also pay 20 to 25% more on lucrative high stakes gambling machines. It is estimated that this tax increase will cost betting companies around GBP75 million a year.

As for the new gambling act, officials had initially set the deadline for October 1, but were forced to postpone the measures until November 1 after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) challenged them in court, claiming they contravened European laws guaranteeing free movement of services.

Judge Nicholas Green dismissed the appeal on Friday, saying: “Parliament was clearly within its rights to act as it did.”

“We remain concerned the UK regulator will find it difficult to hold companies to account in jurisdictions outside of the EU where it has no legal powers and common legal framework or culture,” the GBGA wrote in a statement.

Critics argue that the new regulations will result in unlicensed operators offering better odds on sports scores, thus encouraging gamblers to turn to illegal websites, which offer no consumer protection.

GBGA: “Unlawful’” Gambling Law Poses “New Danger” for Consumers

Earlier in June, the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) raised a few issues regarding the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, labeling it as “unlawful”, and claiming that it “threatens the safety of consumers online.”

The new regime will require the UK Gambling Commission to police the online industry worldwide, which will be very difficult. GBGA chief Peter Howitt believes that the new law, combined with planned tax changes, will cause local players to migrate to the unregulated market.

“This is bad for UK consumers, bad for the regulated industry, bad for Gibraltar and is in breach of European law, but fantastic news for operators who choose to avoid proper regulation,” he said in a statement.

“We know of no precedent where any regulator in any industry will be granted the role of licensing and regulating operators all over the world in this way, threatening to criminalize companies and people who fail to submit to its regime. This is plainly unworkable.”

In addition to being “unlawful” and “unworkable”, the new law is also “unnecessary”, the association said. Gibraltar has one of the world’s most effective regulatory regimes and would continue to be responsible for its gambling industry, but it would also have to share information with the UK regulator on a formal basis.

In a statement released by the GBGA, the association’s lawyers added: “All this Act achieves is a wholly unjustified, disproportionate and discriminatory interference with the right to free movement of services, a right enshrined in European Law.”

Gaming Intelligence: Pinnacle Sports to shut down UK operations

Curaçao-licensed betting operator Pinnacle Sports announced that it will withdraw from the UK market. The company decided to stop catering to British players after the Government announced it was introducing tighter regulations under the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014.

At the beginning of September, the company sent a notification to all its customers, announcing it will shut down its UK operations from September 30th. Apart from withdrawals, all account functions have been disabled starting September 30. The restriction applies to subscribers who have listed UK as their place of residence, in their account details.

“Amendments to the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act come into force on October 1st, 2014 requiring all companies that advertise or provide gambling services to British residents to obtain a license from the British Gambling Commission,” the betting operator explained in a statement.

Pinnacle is just one of the many online gambling operators who chose to withdraw from the British market due to the 15% point of consumption tax. The list also includes SBOBet and 12BET, both licensed in Isle of Man, and Gibraltar-based Mansion casino.

The UK Government will move forward with its plan to tax remote gambling companies who cater to British players.

The court has given the British Government the green light to implement its new gambling laws. The decision comes after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association challenged the government’s new licensing and taxation policies in court, hoping to receive approval to continue catering to British players remotely, without actually paying taxes in the UK.

For several years now, top gambling operators – including big names like William Hill, Ladbrokes or bet365 – have been running their online casinos and betting services from places like Gibraltar, Malta or Isle of Man. These offshore jurisdictions have much lower taxes than the UK, allowing gambling companies to pocket millions of pounds that would normally go to the British government.

The industry has been preparing for the big tax change, which is expected to cost it around GBP300 million a year, but the move has also caused share prices to drop. British bookmaker William Hill saw its shares fall 3.3%, while Ladbrokes shares dropped more than 4% following the court’s decision.

Reuters: RPT- Court clears Britain to take tighter control of online gambling

In order to tighten controls on the online betting industry, the British Government will require all internet gambling companies to obtain a license from the UK Gambling Commission before providing their services on the local market.

With the new license comes an additional 15% tax on online profits made from bets placed by UK-based customers, which is scheduled to come into force on December 1. As of March 2015, bookmakers will also pay 20 to 25% more on lucrative high stakes gambling machines. It is estimated that this tax increase will cost betting companies around GBP75 million a year.

As for the new gambling act, officials had initially set the deadline for October 1, but were forced to postpone the measures until November 1 after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) challenged them in court, claiming they contravened European laws guaranteeing free movement of services.

Judge Nicholas Green dismissed the appeal on Friday, saying: “Parliament was clearly within its rights to act as it did.”

“We remain concerned the UK regulator will find it difficult to hold companies to account in jurisdictions outside of the EU where it has no legal powers and common legal framework or culture,” the GBGA wrote in a statement.

Critics argue that the new regulations will result in unlicensed operators offering better odds on sports scores, thus encouraging gamblers to turn to illegal websites, which offer no consumer protection.

GBGA: “Unlawful’” Gambling Law Poses “New Danger” for Consumers

Earlier in June, the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) raised a few issues regarding the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, labeling it as “unlawful”, and claiming that it “threatens the safety of consumers online.”

The new regime will require the UK Gambling Commission to police the online industry worldwide, which will be very difficult. GBGA chief Peter Howitt believes that the new law, combined with planned tax changes, will cause local players to migrate to the unregulated market.

“This is bad for UK consumers, bad for the regulated industry, bad for Gibraltar and is in breach of European law, but fantastic news for operators who choose to avoid proper regulation,” he said in a statement.

“We know of no precedent where any regulator in any industry will be granted the role of licensing and regulating operators all over the world in this way, threatening to criminalize companies and people who fail to submit to its regime. This is plainly unworkable.”

In addition to being “unlawful” and “unworkable”, the new law is also “unnecessary”, the association said. Gibraltar has one of the world’s most effective regulatory regimes and would continue to be responsible for its gambling industry, but it would also have to share information with the UK regulator on a formal basis.

In a statement released by the GBGA, the association’s lawyers added: “All this Act achieves is a wholly unjustified, disproportionate and discriminatory interference with the right to free movement of services, a right enshrined in European Law.”

Gaming Intelligence: Pinnacle Sports to shut down UK operations

Curaçao-licensed betting operator Pinnacle Sports announced that it will withdraw from the UK market. The company decided to stop catering to British players after the Government announced it was introducing tighter regulations under the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014.

At the beginning of September, the company sent a notification to all its customers, announcing it will shut down its UK operations from September 30th. Apart from withdrawals, all account functions have been disabled starting September 30. The restriction applies to subscribers who have listed UK as their place of residence, in their account details.

“Amendments to the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act come into force on October 1st, 2014 requiring all companies that advertise or provide gambling services to British residents to obtain a license from the British Gambling Commission,” the betting operator explained in a statement.

Pinnacle is just one of the many online gambling operators who chose to withdraw from the British market due to the 15% point of consumption tax. The list also includes SBOBet and 12BET, both licensed in Isle of Man, and Gibraltar-based Mansion casino.