5 11 November 2006

News:

Remote gambling operators are concerned that the UK Government's desire to press ahead with a September 2007 deadline for drawing up Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCOP), for the regulation and licensing of gambling under the Gambling Act 2005, could result in poor quality and inadequate regulation.

World Online Gambling Law Report will hold a 14 December Gaming Investment Intensive to examine the state of the international remote gaming market and the payments industry, following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). BDO Stoy Hayward LLP will host the Intensive at their offices in Baker Street, London.

The French Government is introducing legislation designed to freeze payments made by banks to 'illegal' online gambling operators, The legislation will also require internet service providers (ISPs) to inform visitors to 'illegal' online gambling sites that the sites are considered inappropriate by the Ministry of the Interior.

Features:

Now that the storm has cleared following the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the US, new clouds have appeared, as operators attempt to navigate their way through regulations in Asia and Europe.

Following the passage of restrictive legislation in the US, operators have been considering that Asia, with recent improvements in technical infrastructure, could develop into a significant online gambling market. However, differing regional regulation means that operators should adopt a cautious approach to potential operations. Tom Lippiett, of Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, provides an overview of the key jurisdictions, highlighting the key commercial and legal issues to consider.

Imagine this. You are sitting in the comfort of your own home at your PC, happily searching and buying the odd thing online. You come across a banner for an online poker site. You click it, fancy your chances so you register, deposit and enter a game. After an hour, there is a knock at your front door where a uniformed officer promptly arrests you for participating in illegal activity.

Recent proposals for a new interstate treaty prohibiting internet gambling, conflicts between community law and domestic courts' decisions, and a recent antitrust ruling against 'Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock' by the Federal Cartel's Office, affirmed by a Dusseldorf Court of Appeal, means the current German position is one of confusion. Martin Arendts, an Attorney-at-law, at Arendts Anwalte, examines the current position.

Online gambling operators have had a traumatic summer, with arrests and legislative action in the US, as well as action by EU States. Mike Morgan and Mark Miller of Hammonds examine how the crackdowns have affected sport sponsorship deals, and discuss what the future holds for the online gambling industry's support of sport.

The European Commission recently extended its infringement proceedings to France, Italy and Austria and the French Senate has just released its second report analysing French gaming policies. Thibault Verbiest and Evelyn Heffermehl, of ULYS law firm, analyse the effects of the Commission's decision and the findings of the Senate Report.