The Swedish gambling market has become ever more competitive in recent years since the Swedish government relaxed rules restricting other companies from operating in the country. The state-owned Svenska Spel has dominated the market, arguably creating a monopoly in Swedish gaming. However in recent years, the government has let privately-owned businesses operate in the country, ensuring that even during the recent economic downturn the industry remained unaffected. Despite the Swedish Government’s strict regulation of the gambling industry, other companies have been able to profit from the gap in the market left by Svenska Spel. Despite the giant’s dominance of the…

Poker News – As online poker conversations continue to expand, Indian tribes are being thrust into the forefront, especially in California where legislators have introduced two bills. That state is home to dozens of federally recognized tribes, almost all of which want a piece of the iGaming pie. “At the heart of the Internet gaming debate, tribes are simply asking to be able to compete on an equal footing,” said Ernie Stevens Jr., chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) in the latest issue of Casino Enterprise Magazine. “To protect tribal sovereignty and ensure equal access to the market,…

iGaming Business – The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has concluded that an advert campaign by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power featuring Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius breached rules and brought advertising into disrepute. The campaign referred to the outcome of a trial in which Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in February 2013. ASA said the advert drew a record 5,525 complaints, as reported by iGaming business. The advert offered people the chance to bet on the outcome of the trial, with the advert featuring an offer for those that place a bet. The advert appeared in the…

Poker News – Sweden recently asked the European Commission for more time before actions are taken against the country’s gambling monopoly because “changes are imminent” and a new set of norms could be ready as early as next November. However, EGBA secretary general Maarten Haijer rejected the proposal and called for “immediate sanctions.” According to what Sweden’s Treasury Undersecretary Erik Thedéen explained in an interview given to Sweden’s news-agency Direkt, the government is currently trying to buy itself time to avoid the risk of international sanctions. “The Swedish government hopes that the European Commission will decide to freeze the infringement…

UK chancellor George Osborne has announced changes for Point of Consumption Tax (POC) and Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). New tax laws for the UK gambling industry are in the government’s Budget for 2014, with the tax rate for FOBTs increasing to 25%. Additionally, the bingo duty would be cut to 10%, and the government will proceed with plans to introduce a 15% POC tax for remote gambling. UK bookmakers in particular were hit with the announcement that the tax rate for FOBTs will be increased from its current rate of 20% to a new rate of 25%. Shortly after this…

iGaming Business – Spanish media giant Marca has utilised its partnership with social sports betting technology provider Oddslife to enter into the social gaming market. Marca has used the Oddslife platform to launch ‘Marca El Guru’, a customised social sportsbook platform that enables users to engage and compete with each other using their knowledge of sport. As part of the arrangement, Oddslife has added a number of new devices and features to help motivate users and increase engagement. Additional features include missions, profile badges, virtual trophies and memorable sports moments. Users can use a single sign-on to access the platform…