EU Privacy Changes and Online Gambling Operators

The EU privacy regulation will force online gambling operators and suppliers to a major change in their internal privacy compliance. Based on my personal experience, privacy compliance has not traditionally been a priority for online gambling operators and suppliers. This was also due to the fact that operators and suppliers are usually based in countries that adopt a lighter approach to privacy compliance. But this is no longer going to happen with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which will entitle players to bring claims before the authority of their country of residence, rather than the country of establishment…

The Brexit Affect on Gambling in The UK

With changes underway, the Brexit affect on gambling in the UK is in question. Brexit causes major concern for Gibraltar, a British territory off the coast of Spain and a major hub for online gaming, with companies like 888 Holdings and Bet Victor based on the island. A majority of the people who work on Gibraltar live in Spain, and with a split from the EU looming around the corner these companies could potentially lose a substantial part of their workforce. The future of gaming regulation after Britain’s exit from the EU is unclear. With online gambling firms already paying…

Swiss Online Casinos to Ban Offshore Online Gambling

Switzerland is set to ban foreign betting sites following a referendum vote on the country’s new Gambling Act. Swiss online casinos, however, will be allowed under the incoming Gambling Act. The Act will also raise the taxable winnings threshold from $1,012 to $1.0129m. Swiss voters overwhelmingly supported the notion with 72.9% coming out in favor of the new Gambling Act, despite it containing some of the strictest regulations in Europe leading opponents to claim it is tantamount to censorship. With both of Switzerland’s legislatures, their houses of parliament, already passing the legislation it is set to become law in 2019. The…

Michigan House Passes Online Gambling Bill

Gamblers in Michigan would be able to play and bet on casino games online under bills passed 68-40 by the House on Tuesday night. The bills would allow casinos to obtain licenses to offer online gambling and require an 8 percent tax on the activity. Only people over the age of 21 would be able to participate. “It will allow internet gaming as it relates to all of the currently allowed games in a brick-and-mortar casino, that’d be poker, roulette, black jack, craps,” said Rep. Brandt Iden, the lead sponsor on the bills. The legislation also sets up the framework for legal sports…

Pennsylvania sports betting launched

Online Gambling Faces Huge Tax Burden in Pennsylvania

What has Pennsylvania gotten itself into with an extremely high tax rate for online casino games? We’re close to finding out. In October 2017, PA Gov. Tom Wolf signed massive gaming bill into law, effectively authorizing real money online poker and casino games which will form part of a large-scale statewide gambling expansion. As regulated US iGaming interests prepare to launch their offerings to the Keystone State market — perhaps as early as this year — here is a look at the 54 percent effective slot revenue tax rate that internet casino operators will be responsible for paying to various…

Congressional Committee on Sports Betting

AGA Still Silent About Online Gambling

The American Gaming Association is a vocal supporter of legal, regulated sports betting, including mobile wagering, yet the group has been deafeningly silent on the topic of online gambling. That silence could be coming to an end. With the US Supreme Court paving the way for states to take sports betting matters into their own hands, the AGA’s focus has shifted to legislation and ensuring that the new legal sports betting markets are successful and capture the sports betting dollars currently heading offshore. The AGA’s support of mobile sports betting is at odds with its position of “no position” when…