GREF 2016 Conference Brochure

Transcription

ANNUAL MEETING MALTA
31 MAY - 2 JUNE 2016
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INTRODUCTION
FROM THE GREF CHAIRMAN
Jason Lane
GREF Chairman
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
A warm welcome to the beautiful Island of Malta and a big
thank you to Joseph Cuschieri and our colleagues at the MGA
for hosting our Conference and Annual Business Meeting.
GREF has been renewed and re-energised since revising and updating our constitution in 2012,
becoming more dynamic, self-confident and relevant to our members. This year continues to
build on this momentum as the membership will be invited to consider the future status of our
organisation and empower its Board to take the next steps necessary to allow GREF to develop
and grow. I am delighted that the decision of the Dublin meeting to build the working capital to
fund these changes through a membership fee has been successful and that we continue to
welcome new jurisdictions into our organisation.
This 2016 conference also breaks new ground by co-locating at the Westin Dragonara with the
conference of IAGA: the International Association of Gaming Advisors. As regulators, we need to
meet together to consider our role and responsibilities, but we also need to have dialogue with
and respect for the industry that we regulate. Sharing the second day of our conference with
that of IAGA offers us a wonderful opportunity to renew those contacts, challenge assumptions
and consider shared solutions to make sure that this industry operates to the highest regulatory
standards.
I am particularly indebted to Martha Sabol, the IAGA President and her Executive Director,
Kirsten Clark. They have both put in an extraordinary effort to ensure that the organisation
underpinning these conferences is of the highest standard and that delegates from both
organisations benefit from an engaging and rewarding programme of speakers and networking.
It would also be remiss of me not to acknowledge the help and assistance of my Board
colleagues for all of their hard work and enthusiasm over the past year.
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ANNUAL MEETING MALTA 31 MAY - 2 JUNE 2016
The GREF Board for 2015 / 16 were:
Jason Lane (Jersey) – Chair
Steven Brennan (Isle of Man) – Vice-Chair
Maria Wennerberg-Sedigh (Sweden) – Treasurer
Reto Brand (Switzerland) – Secretary
Jonny Engebø (Norway)
Marja Appelman (Netherlands)
Heathcliff Farrugia (Malta)
Rolf Sims (Norway)
Richard Faulkner (Alderney)
This year marks the departure of two Board Members. Reto Brand has held the position of
Secretary of GREF for five years having joined the Board a year before in preparation for the Berne
conference. A Co-Chair of the Info Stat working group for many years, Reto has been a stalwart
on the GREF scene and I want to recognise his contribution and thank him for his efforts and
endurance during his several terms of office.
With the end of my term of office we will see the administration of GREF transfer from the Jersey
Gambling Commission to the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. The administration
of GREF does take time and dedication and I want to acknowledge my team for helping me over
the past few years, but particularly Matthew Viney who has done a lot of the background liaison
work and helped keep things on an even keel.
That does mean of course that there are a number of positions up for grabs and I hope that
you give serious thought to putting your name forward to help guide and build on what has been
achieved to date. Your new Board will have a number of challenges ahead, not least of which
will be to choose the best way forward for GREF, as well as keeping the organisation fresh and
relevant moving ahead. I ask you to give Steve as incoming Chair your active support, your energy
and your enthusiasm as you have in past years and I wish him and the new Board every success.
Finally, it only remains for me to say thank you for the privilege of being your Vice-Chair and now
Chair over the past four years. I’m leaving GREF in excellent hands and I have every confidence
that we will continue to grow and improve, meeting your needs and adding value.
Thank you for coming; enjoy the conference and enjoy Malta.
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MESSAGE
FROM THE IAGA PRESIDENT
Martha Sabol
IAGA President
Welcome
to the beautiful and historic country of Malta – the perfect
setting for IAGA’s 35th annual International Gaming Summit.
Many of you have travelled great distances to attend the Summit, so I hope that you will actively
participate in the scheduled discussions and networking opportunities, while taking the time to
experience some of Malta’s culture and visiting the various historic areas of this unique country.
The 2016 Summit is being held in cooperation with our Summit Partners, Gaming Regulators
European Forum (GREF), which is the première European gaming regulatory organization. This
Summit marks the first time GREF and IAGA have hosted a joint conference allowing IAGA and
GREF members the unique opportunity to come together to network and discuss important
matters affecting the international gaming industry. I would like to thank GREF and its members
for this ground breaking opportunity. I would also like to thank the Malta Gaming Authority
(MGA) for its support and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) for hosting the GLI University
Regulator’s Seminar which kicked off the Summit on Tuesday. It has been a pleasure working
with GREF, MGA, GLI, their leaders and our members in planning and hosting this Summit.
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The Summit will focus on the international gaming industry as a whole. Our compelling panel
and roundtable discussions on Online Gaming, Investing and Financing in the Gaming Industry,
Data Privacy, and Fantasy Sports, among other topics, will be presented by industry thought
leaders providing you with an exceptional learning opportunity. We will discuss Convergence as
the universe of land based casinos, lotteries, and online gaming have been brought together and
thereby changed the landscape of gaming. The mergers between the lottery sector companies
and casino equipment manufacturers have fuelled the start of these talks. We will meet these
and other topics head-on with the valuable input of the GREF regulators and the world class
experience of our peers. I am honoured to welcome the best and brightest leaders from the
gaming industry to this Summit.
Momentum has been a key focus for IAGA this year as we continue to leverage the strengths and
the extensive experience of our members, who have made IAGA the leading advisor and provider
of relevant educational content in the ever-evolving and complex world of gaming since 1980.
IAGA has consistently provided gaming industry executives with world class educational and
networking programs to help address key issues and lead the gaming industry into the future. We
could not do this without the involvement of our committed members and the generous financial
support of our sponsors.
It is an honour for me to serve as your IAGA President. My commitment to IAGA for more than a
decade has been an important part of my career as a gaming attorney, and has allowed me to
build life-long friendships. I encourage you to get involved and engage the many resources and
relationships IAGA has to offer. I look forward to seeing you throughout the Summit and working
with you to continue the great momentum and growth of our organization.
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PROGRAMME: ARRIVAL & DAY 1
WESTIN DRAGONARA RESORT, ST. JULIAN’S
Arrival Day - Tuesday 31st May
12:00 - 16:00
Optional - GLI University Regulators Seminar
St. George’s Suite.
18:00 - 21:00
Joint Welcome Reception with IAGA
including a light dinner. Westin Dragonara Palio Terraces.
Dress code - casual or business casual.
Day 1 Wednesday 1st June - St. George’s Suite
09:00 - 09:15
Welcome Address & Opening Remarks in Dragonara Ballroom
Martha Sabol, IAGA President & Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Jason Lane, GREF Chairman & CEO, Jersey Gambling Commission
Joseph Cuschieri, Executive Chairman, Malta Gaming Authority
Hon. Dr Emmanuel Mallia – Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business
of Malta
09:15 - 09:45
Keynote Address
An update on the work of the European Commission and the Expert Group.
Harrie Temmink, Chairman of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Gambling
Services.
09:45 - 10:00
Networking & Refreshment Break
10:00 - 11:30
GREF Business Meeting
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11:30 - 12.30
Election of new board members;
GREF financial report;
Website update;
AOB
Lotteries: Lottery Risk – A Regulators’ Responsibility
What are the Lottery specific risks? – Lotteries - hard or soft gaming? What level of
focus should be considered with regard to consumer protection, prevention of under
age play, draw fairness, anti-money laundering, fraud/criminality.
Multi channel delivery platforms – The future distribution of lotteries. What are the
channels for the future? Do different channels represent different risks?
The challenges for Regulators – How to maintain a balance between effective regulatory mitigation to protect consumers and revenues for good causes /the state. Government regulation or self-regulation? How to deal with lobby activities.
Moderated by Rolf Sims, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Culture Norway, the panellists
include:
• Phyllis Farrugia, Senior Advisor, Malta Gambling Authority (Malta)
• Rosa Godino, Deputy Head of Unit for Gambling Regulation at DGOJ (Spain)
• Ben Haden, Programme Director Lotteries, National Lottery (UK)
• Steve Martino, a Partner with Duane Morris (USA)
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12.30 - 12.40
GREF Conference Photograph
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch, including breakout sessions
3 Options for GREF members:
1. GREF Members only – Lunch
2. GREF/IAGA – Buffet lunch on the terrace
3. GREF/IAGA – Buffet lunch and join one of the three IAGA break out sessions (see
below)
“Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?”
This panel will open your eyes and maybe even send shivers down your spine as our
experts wax lyrical on the meaning of legalized gambling.
Moderated by Mark Clayton, a shareholder with Greenberg Traurig, the panellists
include:
• Dale Fuga, Liquor & Gaming Authority of Manitoba (Canada)
• Mario Galea, Random Consulting (Malta)
• Jennifer Roberts, Partner, Duane Morris (US)
The New Frontier: Global Gaming’s Emerging Markets
This panel will evaluate how gaming regulatory structures should be established in
these new jurisdictions and which regulatory models they should look to for inspiration.
Moderated by Kevin Mullally, GLI Vice President of Government Relations and General
Counsel, the panellists include:
• Era Gavrielides, PwC (United Kingdom)
• Rui Pinto Proenca, Partner, MdME Lawyers (Macau)
• David Rittvo, The Innovation Group (USA)
Is Grey the New White? Impact of New Jersey’s Policy Statement
on “Grey Markets” and What it Means for Other Jurisdictions. This panel will explore the impact of the policy statement on operators and regulators
in other jurisdictions.
Moderated by Jeremy P. Kleiman, Esq. - Member, Saiber LLC, the panellists include:
•T
homas Auriemma, Compliance Committee Member, Penn National Gaming & MGM
Resorts International,
• James Elliott, General Counsel, NetEnt AB
• Jason Lane, CEO, Jersey Gambling Commission
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13:45 - 14:15
Match Fixing
Match Fixing - The role of sports betting regulators in the fight against match-fixing:
ARJEL example
Charles Coppolani, Chair of Online Gambling Regulatory Authority (ARJEL), France
14:15 - 15:30
GREF Working Groups
• eGambling – Co-Chairs, Claire Pinson, France & Mark Rutherford, Isle of Man
• Infostat – Reto Brand, Switzerland
• Responsible Gambling - Jonny Engebø, Norway
15:30 - 15:45
15:45 - 16:15
GREF Working Group Feedback
• eGambling – Co-Chairs, Claire Pinson, France & Mark Rutherford, Isle of Man
• Infostat – Reto Brand, Switzerland
• Responsible Gambling - Jonny Engebø, Norway
16:15 - 17:00
Lotteries: Lottery Competition – Chasing Market Share
The importance of Lotteries in Member State Channelling Policies – Should the
state provide the regime or could private operators do the job. Justification of lotteries
within a state provided /monopoly model. Impact of legal decisions by national and EU
courts.
Competition for leisure spend – What is the secret of success behind lotteries? Is
there room for both national lotteries and lotteries run by commercial companies? If
so, what would the impact be on national lotteries and their revenues for good causes
or the state? Would this represent different risks?
Current trends in lotteries – Technology and consumer habits are changing. Will the
younger generations choose to play lotteries or are lotteries losing out to other forms
of entertainment or gambling? Are sales going up or down and what new products do
we see? Will lotteries win “the competition” for leisure money spend?
Moderated by Rolf Sims, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Culture Norway, the panellists
include:
• Dale Fuga, COO, Liquor and Gaming Authority, Manitoba (Canada)
• Stein Langberget, Legal Director, Norse Tipping (Norway)
• Leslie MacLeod-Millar, Lawyer, International Gaming Regulation (UK)
• Tatiana van Lier, Head of Public Affairs, Postcode Lottery (The Netherlands)
17:00 - 17:10
Chairman’s Closing Remarks
18:30 - 21:30
Joint Drinks reception followed by “President’s Dinner”. Upper
Barrakka Saluting Battery
Dress code: Smart Business or cocktail attire. Coaches will be available from the hotel
main lobby from 6pm.
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PROGRAMME DAY 2
WESTIN DRAGONARA RESORT, ST. JULIAN’S
Day 2 - Thursday 2nd June - Dragonara Ballroom
09:00 - 09:15
Welcome Address and Opening Remarks
Joseph Cuschieri, Executive Chairman, Malta Gaming Authority
09:15 - 10:00
Keynote Address
Donald R. Sweitzer, IGT Corporation (North America) Chairman and Senior Public
Affairs Advisor
10:00 - 11:00
Lotteries: What Does the Future Hold?
The international lottery industry is evolving. Industry mergers have changed the focus
of companies that serve the lottery industry – but is that a good or a bad thing? Are
lotteries just a mature product or have they become irretrievably stale? What are the
impacts for Governments which rely on the rivers of gold from lotteries? Our panel will
explore how lotteries might change during the next few years and how the rest of the
gambling industry may respond.
Moderated by Stephen Martino, a Partner with Duane Morris, the panellists include:
• Joseph Cuschieri, Executive Chairman, Malta Gaming Authority
• Ben Haden, Programme Director Lotteries, UK National Lottery
• Jeremy Kleiman, Partner, Saiber LLC (US)
• Leslie MacLeod-Millar, Lawyer, International Gaming Regulation (UK)
• Tatiana van Lier, Head of Public Affairs, Postcode Lottery (The Netherlands)
11:00 - 11:30
11:30 - 12:30
Fantasy Sports: Much Ado About…Something?
In Much Ado About Nothing, when Claudio says, “O what men dare do! What men
may do! What men daily do, not knowing what they do!” was he talking about Fantasy
Sports? Manufacturers, customers, sports associations and governments have all
asked whether Daily Fantasy Sports is gambling. Our panellists will cover the current
state of the market, the business aspects, its potential, its relation to online and
sports gaming in the US and elsewhere and how regulators might choose to regulate
it…or not. This session will be as “Merry as the day is long”.
Moderated by Mark Dunn, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Aristocrat
Technologies, the panellists include:
• Valéry Bollier, Chief Executive Officer, Oulala Games (Malta)
• Todd Heyden, Chief Revenue Officer, SportsLock (US)
• Scott Scherer, Partner, Holland & Hart (US)
• Quinton Singleton, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary,
CG Technology (US)
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12:30 - 14:00
Lunch, including breakout sessions
European Update
With EU’s so-called “single market” having 32 members it has created an increasingly
complex gambling licensing and regulatory environment. Is co-operation rather than
harmonization the only realistic goal? Some 20 years on from when it all started, what
lessons can other gaming jurisdictions learn from the European experience?
Moderated by David Clifton of Clifton Davies Consultancy UK, the panellists include:
• Marie Connelly, Senior Associate, A&L Goodbody
• J enny Williams, former CEO and board member of the United Kingdom Gambling
Commission
• Dr. Corinne Gatt, Malta Gaming Authority Head of EU and International Affairs
• Dr. Joseph Borg, WH Partners, Malta
Americas Update
Gaming developments in the Americas continue at an ever rapid pace. In the U.S.,
New Jersey’s legal challenges may result in sports betting’s expansion while other
states are looking at alternative opportunities for gaming growth. Brazil is looking to
new gaming legislation and Canada’s VLTs are in the news. In this session panellists
will look into the crystal ball and predict gaming’s American future.
Moderated by Howard Stutz of Greenberg Traurig, the panellists include:
• Amy Elder, Of Counsel, Baker Donelson
• Ilkim Hincer, Counsel and Gaming Specialty Group Co-Chair, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt
(Canada)
• Paul Seeman, General Counsel, Rush Street Gaming
Asia Update: Monkey Business and Tiger Economies
In this Lunar Year of the Monkey, Asian economies face the possibility of economic
cooling. Does this hinder opportunities for new gambling developments or encourage
governments to fast-track them? And what do established Asian gambling jurisdictions
do to react?
Moderated by Peter Cohen, Director of Regulatory Affairs with the Agenda Group (Australia), the panellists include:
• Paul Richardson, Group Director of Strategy and Corporate Development, The Rank
Group PLC (UK)
• Masahiro Terada, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Japan
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14:00 - 15:00
Keeping Pace with Evolving AML Compliance Practices
As anti-money laundering compliance methods continue to evolve in response to
growing regulatory scrutiny, gaming operators are increasingly tasked with undertaking
initiatives to improve their compliance and risk management programs. This panel will
explore recent changes to the regulatory landscape in Europe, Asia and North America,
address lessons learned from recent enforcement actions, review practical suggestions for implementing risk-based patron due diligence procedures, and evaluate how
data analytics and automated transaction monitoring can assist with surveillance of
potentially suspicious activities.
Moderated by Vasilios Chrisos, a Principal with PwC’s Financial Crimes Unit, the panellists will include:
• Thomas Auriemma, Compliance Committee Member, Penn National Gaming & MGM
Resorts International
• Samuel Lung, Director, Fraud Investigation & Dispute Service, E&Y (Hong Kong)
• Nick Tofiluk, Gambling Commission (UK)
• Jon Duffy, Director of Corporate Assurance & Regulatory Affairs, Genting UK
15:00 - 16:00
Convergence and its Impact on Global Gaming
As gaming companies continue to grow and consolidate so does their range of offers
making use of their capability to mix and match. Our panel, drawn from the worlds of
land based and online gaming, will discuss the rationale of this trend, how the gaming
industry might look in the not so distant future and how regulators might respond to
product convergence.
Moderated by Rob Heller, CEO of Spectrum Gaming Capital, the panellists will include:
•M
ichael Cohen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary for Caesars Acquisition Company (US)
• Raymond Lin, Partner, Latham Watkins LLC (US)
• Alexander P. Merwald, Novomatica (Austria)
• L arry Potts, Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer & Director of Security,
Scientific Games (US)
16:00 - 16:15
Closing Remarks
Free Evening
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SPEAKER PROFILES
Thomas N. Auriemma
Compliance Committee Member, Penn National Gaming
Thomas N. Auriemma is one of the casino industry’s leading gaming
attorneys and consultants. He has a wealth of knowledge based on almost
40 years of experience.
He is currently a member of the Penn National Gaming Compliance Committee. From 2007
to 2011, he was Vice President/Chief Compliance Officer of Penn National Gaming and the
president of a number of its subsidiaries. Penn National is a regionally diversified gaming
company and one of North America’s largest gaming facility operators. He is also a member
of the Compliance Committee of Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada, a Penn National Gaming
operated facility. Auriemma was instrumental in obtaining the required regulatory approvals in
Penn National’s 2013 REIT spin-off of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.
Valéry Bollier
Chief Executive Officer, Oulala Games (Malta)
Valéry Bollier studied for his Executive MBA at HEC with his Major in Digital,
and following on from that has amassed 9 years in media and online
marketing and a further 11 years in online gaming.
He is a regular speaker at industry conferences and seminars, as well as a contributor to
various BtoB publications. Valery is a shareholder and former CMO of ZEturf (11% of the
French horse racing market) and today spends most of his time as the co-founder and CEO of
OulalaGames, (www.oulala.com), a revolutionary daily fantasy football game based on Big Data.
Launched 3 years ago, OulalaGames now has 20+ employees and has secured more than €1.5
million in investment to date.
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Dr. Joseph Borg
Senior Advisor, WH Partners
Joseph Borg is a Malta Advocate and an expert in gaming regulation.
Before joining WH Partners, he was Chief Regulatory Officer of the Malta Gaming Authority and
was a trustee of the International Association of Gaming Regulators. Joseph has represented
the MGA and the Maltese Government at hearings of the ECJ and at the EU Council working
group on gaming. He contributed to a number of Maltese gaming laws and regulations and in
establishing several joint MoUs with regulators in other jurisdictions. He is a member of the
MGA Advisory Team on the overhaul of Malta gaming regulations, has authored several articles
on the gaming industry and is a sought after speaker at gaming conferences. He is a member of
the International Masters of Gaming Law and a lecturer in gaming law at the University of Malta.
Mark A. Clayton
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Mark A. Clayton is Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Gaming Practice.
He focuses on gaming regulatory matters, including those related to land based gaming,
internet gaming and the manufacturing and distribution of gaming equipment. He also counsels
clients on gaming legislation and regulatory projects. He represents clients with matters
concerning gaming in U.S. and international jurisdictions. Mark has wide-ranging experience
in the gaming industry, and has served as an executive and as counsel for many casino
corporations prior to joining the firm. He is a former member of the Nevada State Gaming
Control Board.
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SPEAKER PROFILES
David Clifton
Founding Director, Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited
David Clifton is well known for his depth of experience in all aspects of
licensing and gambling law in which he has specialized for nearly 35 years.
He advises a broad range of gambling industry clients both in the UK and overseas and has
been a contributing editor for leading textbooks on the subject of gambling law. He has been
top-ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners Guide to the Legal Profession, where he
has been “singled out for his advocacy skills” and described as “a genuine expert in the field,
fantastically dedicated and client-oriented”. With Suzanne Davies, David set up Clifton Davies
Consultancy in 2013 to provide cost-efficient compliance, regulatory, licensing and gambling law
advice to both the online and land-based industry. Details are at www.cliftondavies.com
Michael Cohen
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary, Caesars Acquisition Company
Michael is the Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary for Caesars Acquisition Company (NASDAQ: CACQ)
He is a regular speaker at industry conferences and seminars, as well as a contributor to
various BtoB publications. Valery is a shareholder and former CMO of ZEturf (11% of the
French horse racing market) and today spends most of his time as the co-founder and CEO of
OulalaGames, (www.oulala.com), a revolutionary daily fantasy football game based on Big Data.
Launched 3 years ago, OulalaGames now has 20+ employees and has secured more than €1.5
million in investment to date.
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Peter Cohen
Director of Regulatory Affairs, The Agenda Group
Before joining The Agenda Group in 2011, Peter was Executive Commissioner
and CEO of the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation
He oversaw all aspects of gambling regulation including oversight of a casino with 2,500
slot machines/500 tables, 27,500 slot machines in 500+ venues, two lottery operators, a
parimutuel operator, bookmakers, keno and charitable gaming. Peter previously served on the
International Association of Gaming Regulators Steering Committee and as Chairman (2009-10)
and is a UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation Advisory Board member. His areas
of expertise are providing policy advice to governments, negotiating regulatory arrangements
between governments, industry and regulators and assisting industry to achieve improved
regulatory compliance.
Charles Coppolani
Chairman, ARJEL
Charles Coppolani has been the Chair of the French Regulatory Authority for
Online Gaming (ARJEL) since February 2014 and has also served as Chair of
the Observatory of Games since March 2011.
Mr. Coppolani was the Head of the General Economic and Financial Audit in the Ministry of
Economy, Finances and Trade from August 2006 through February 2014. Prior to this office,
he served in a number of capacities including Head of the Audit Mission with France Telecom;
State Auditor of the National Military Funds for Social Security; Assistant Director, then Deputy
Director of Legal Service and Judiciary Agency of Treasury; and Head of Division of Legal
Consultations and Studies and Judiciary Agency of Treasury in the Ministry of Economic and
Financial Affairs.
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SPEAKER PROFILES
Joseph Cuschieri
Executive Chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
A Certified Public Accountant by profession, he is specialised in management
accounting, finance, economic regulation and general management.
He also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College,
UK and an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting from the Chartered Institute of
Management Accountants (CIMA), UK. Throughout his professional career, he held various
senior executive positions within the private sector mainly in the construction, services,
communications and hospitality sectors amongst others. Prior to joining the MGA, Joseph was
Chief Commercial Officer at Vodafone, and a senior consultant with Ernst & Young. During his
time at Vodafone, Joseph was involved in key regulatory projects both in Egypt and Turkey.
Furthermore, he spent a period of eighteen months enrolled on the Vodafone Group’s global
leadership development programme.
Jon Duffy
Director of Corporate Assurance & Regulatory Affairs, Genting UK
Jon is responsible for the Internal Audit, Compliance, Social Responsibility
and AML Departments at Genting Casinos UK (40+ UK Casinos), Genting
Alderney (online operation) and the soon to open Genting Cairo.
Having worked in the Casino industry for 19-years, starting as a Croupier and with previous roles
including Head of Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer, Jon has a wide range
of experience. A member of the International Compliance Association and Institute of Money
Laundering Prevention Officers, Jon holds diplomas in both Anti-Money Laundering and Financial
Crime Prevention.
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Mark R. Dunn
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Aristocrat Technologies
Mark R. Dunn is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Aristocrat
Technologies, where he is head of global legal operations and compliance.
Prior to Aristocrat, Mark worked for more than nine years at Caesars Entertainment Corporation
(and its predecessor in interest, Harrah’s Entertainment), finishing as its Vice President of Legal
Affairs – Western Division, where he managed legal affairs for property operations for all of the
company’s casinos in Nevada, California and Arizona and its international locations.
James Elliott
General Counsel, NetEnt
James is the General Counsel of NetEnt, the premium world-leading B2B
supplier of digitally distributed casino systems and games.
NetEnt is listed on Nasdaq OMX in Sweden. James heads up the global legal function. Prior
to joining NetEnt in 2014, James was Director of Legal Affairs of the FTSE listed bwin.party
digital entertainment plc (previously PartyGaming Plc) where he served for 9 years in the
in-house legal team. During his time at bwin.party James was involved in the acquisition of
Empire Poker, FoxyBingo, Gamebookers, World Poker Tour and in the merger between bwin and
PartyGaming. James advises on a wide range of areas including software licensing, marketing
and sponsorship, regulatory affairs, intellectual property, technology and e-commerce.
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SPEAKER PROFILES
Phyllis Farrugia
Policy Advisor to the Executive Chairman of the MGA
Phyllis has more than 15 years experience in policy, reform and regulation
of markets having held senior positions in both government and industry in
various previously monopolised sectors.
She is considered as an expert in her field and has held a key advisory position to the Maltese
Government and the Maltese gaming regulator for over a decade covering areas of EU and
international affairs and regulation policy and participated in multitude of strategic, gaming
regulatory debates, legislative proposal negotiations and policy discussions at bilateral,
European and multi-lateral level. Phyllis has been Policy Advisor to the Executive Chairman of
the MGA, Mr Joseph Cuschieri, since December 2014.
Phyllis is a graduate in management and economics and holds two Masters degrees, one in
Business Administration (Brunel University, UK) and the other in Competition and Regulation
Policy (University of East Anglia, UK).
Dale Fuga
Chief Operating Officer of the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba
Dale is responsible for all operational units within the Authority including
Licensing and Compliance.
Dale has been involved with gaming regulation since 1987 when he began as an Auditor with the
Manitoba Lotteries Foundation, subsequently serving as Audit Manager; Manager of Licensing
and Audit; and Director of Licensing Services. In 1997 he was transferred to the newly created
Manitoba Gaming Control Commission as Chief Financial Officer and Director of Licensing and
Registration. He assumed the Chief Operating Officer’s role in June, 1999. In 2014, this role was
expanded to include additional responsibilities for liquor licensing and compliance.
Dale has been an active member of North American Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA)
since 1989 and served as its President on two occasions. He is also an active participant
with the Canadian Association of Gaming Regulatory Agencies (CAGRA) and is currently VicePresident of the Board of Trustees of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).
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Mario Galea
Chief Executive Officer, Random Consulting
Mario Galea is well known for having influenced the introduction of regulated
online gaming in Europe and the United States.
He has over 18 years of experience in the gaming industry spreading across many sectors. He
founded and was the first regulator for the Malta Gaming Authority, which under his leadership
became the largest and most trusted jurisdiction for online gaming. He has worked with the
European Commission on policy issues concerning cross border gaming. He was the in-house
advisor to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to roll-out online gaming in the state.
His current focus is on investments in technologies that will shape the future of gaming and
bring gaming to new markets. On the side, he is a Java developer and regularly contributes code
to the gaming community.
Dr. Corinne Gatt
Head of EU & External Affairs, Malta Gaming Authority
Corinne graduated Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 2009 and
obtained a Masters degree in Computer and Communications Law from
Queen Mary, University of London in 2010.
She has been working with the Malta Gaming Authority, previously the Lotteries and Gaming
Authority, since 2011. She offers legal support and advice to the Authority, is involved in the
regulation of gaming and has been instrumental in drafting legislation ensuring that the gaming
sector in Malta is transparent to players and well-regulated. In 2014, Corinne was appointed to
manage EU & External Affairs within the Authority and more recently took up the role of Head
of EU and International Affairs. In this capacity, Corinne closely follows every development in
European and international fora concerning gaming.
19
SPEAKER PROFILES
Dr. Era Gavrielideds
Senior Manager - Travel, Leisure and Gaming, PwC Strategy
Era is a strategy consultant that advises clients in the leisure and gaming
space.
Era’s functional expertise ranges from corporate business unit and growth strategy development
to Commercial Due Diligence with special consideration given to the impact of regulatory
change on gaming businesses. Recent gaming engagements include an assessment of gaming
machine regulatory best practice globally, market and competitive reviews of Integrated Resort
Casino and other land-based casino opportunities in Cyprus and other EMEA countries, and
assessments of the potential economic impact of different online gaming regulatory regimes
across a number of European countries. Era regularly attends trade conferences and is currently
working on a piece examining the potential for Integrated Resort Casinos in Europe.
Rosa Godino
Deputy Head, Spanish Directorate-General for Gambling Regulation
Mrs. Rosa Godino is Deputy Head of Unit of the Sub-Directorate General of
Regulation at the Spanish Directorate-General for Gambling Regulation, the
online gambling national regulator in Spain.
A member of the Spanish Civil Service since 2000, she holds a Degree in Law from the
University Complutense of Madrid, a post-graduate Degree in International Law (London
Polytechnic School) and MA in Economics and Competition Law (IE Business School Madrid).
Prior to her appointment as Deputy Head of Unit at the Sub-Directorate of Regulation in
September 2013, she has been working in the gambling sector since 2010 being Advisor on
International Affairs at the Sub-Directorate General of Regulation and previously at the Spanish
National Lottery (National Company of Lotteries and Bets of the State).
20
Ben Haden
Programme Director - Lotteries
Ben arrived at the Commission through the merger with the National Lottery
Commission.
He had worked in a variety of role roles within the NLC across Insight, Corporate Affairs and
Operations, including Head of Evaluation during the third National Lottery licence competition
process.
He previously worked in the private sector within the electricity industry and even further back
spent two years teaching before going to university.
Ben’s main focus is on leading the full range of regulatory activities associated with the
Lotteries programme, including the National Lottery, and delivering the wider Commission
business plan as part of the Business Plan Programme Board. Work includes reporting to the
sub-committee of the board responsible for the National Lottery, facilitating consideration of
proposals from the UK National Lottery operator, Camelot, and monitoring its performance.
Rob Heller
Co-Founder & CEO, Spectrum Gaming Capital
Robert Heller is co-founder and CEO of Spectrum Gaming Capital, a boutique
advisory firm that provides transactional and valuation services exclusively to
the global gaming and resort industries.
SGC assists developers in arranging strategic partnerships and raising capital; mid-market
gaming companies with M&A and capital raising; and investors, governments, corporations and
courts in matters of valuation, restructuring and providing expert witness testimony. Heller is a
member of the Board of Directors of Dolphin Capital Investors, a global luxury residential resort
development company traded on the London Stock Exchange Heller chairs the Development &
Finance Committee, and is a member of the Strategy & Oversight and Audit Committees. Heller
joined SGC from UBS Investment Bank where he was responsible for coordinating the bank’s
gaming franchise globally.
21
SPEAKER PROFILES
Todd Heyden
Chief Revenue Officer, SportsLock
Todd Heyden is the Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of TOSS LLC, a
Chicago-based technology company that focuses on fantasy sports and
online gaming.
Over the last five years, TOSS has incubated multiple products (most recently SportsLock –
available in the U.S) while also building white label solutions for certain clients. Todd speaks
at gaming conferences throughout the U.S. covering multiple topics ranging from the legal
landscape of the fantasy sports space to how casinos and gaming companies can target
Millennials with different product offerings. As a consumer in the fantasy sports space since he
was 9, Todd doesn’t believe the current Daily Fantasy Sports model will attract the masses and
ultimately replace season-long fantasy. This has left the door open for an international gaming
operator to own the fantasy sports industry by introducing On-Demand Fantasy Sports.
Ilkim Hincer
Counsel & Co-Chair Gaming Specialty Group, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt
Ilkim Hincer is the Co-Chair of the Gaming Specialty Group at Osler, Hoskin &
Harcourt, LLP.
Ilkim is the former General Counsel of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Penn National
Gaming’s Canadian subsidiary at Casino Rama, and Onex Corporation’s Trilliant Canada Gaming.
He has extensive regulatory, compliance, risk management, procurement, commercial and
international transactional experience in the gaming industry. His experience includes practical
and operational experience establishing and enhancing compliance regimes and internal
controls (including provincial gaming, responsible gambling, and federal anti-money laundering
requirements) for both private sector gaming operators and the public sector provincial
government agent responsible for the conduct and management of gaming. He can be reached
at ihincer@osler.com.
22
Jeremy P. Kleiman
Member and Head of Gaming Law Practice Group, Saiber LLC
Jeremy Kleiman’s practice focuses on gaming regulatory and business law,
representing casino operators, iGaming and lottery technology providers, and
financial institutions involved in the gaming, lottery and racing industries.
He specializes in gaming-related corporate, regulatory, licensing and compliance matters, with
an emphasis on online and mobile gaming. Prior to rejoining the firm in 2015, Jeremy served for
six years as Executive Vice President, Regulatory & Business Affairs for Coastal Development
and was responsible for legal affairs, government relations and compliance functions. During
his tenure at Saiber from 1998 to 2008, he advised financial institutions, gaming equipment
manufacturers, lottery providers and casino operators on licensing, compliance and other
regulatory matters.
Jason Lane
GREF Chairman
Jason started his career as a gaming regulator in 2001 within the Jersey
Civil Service.
Jason left the civil service and became Chief Executive of the independent Jersey Gambling
Commission on its inception in 2010.
Jason has degrees in Politics, International Studies and a PhD in Policing. He is the current
Chairman of the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF), an active participant in the IAGR
e-gaming working group and a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law.
In 2014 Jason was appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs as a founding Board Member
of the Jersey Police Authority and became Deputy Chairman in 2015, where he has oversight
of business and performance management, workforce management and succession planning
within the States of Jersey Police.
23
SPEAKER PROFILES
Stein Langberget
General Counsel, Norsk Tipping
Stein Langberget has worked in Norsk Tipping since 2007 and is currently
General Counsel of the company. Before this, he worked as a business
lawyer.
Norsk Tipping is a government-owned limited company under the direction of the Ministry of
Culture. Norsk Tippings portfolio consists of lotteries, scratch games, sports betting games,
IVTs and interactive online casino games.
Raymond Lin
Partner, Latham Watkins LLC (US)
Raymond Lin is a New York based partner in the corporate department of
Latham & Watkins LLP.
For over 30 years, he has represented investment banks, private equity firms, developers and
operators in the financing, development or acquisition of over 50 gaming projects in the United
States, Asia and the Caribbean, including with respect to the Venetian resorts in Las Vegas
and Macau, the Mohegan Sun, the Seminole Hard Rock casinos and numerous other Native
American properties, the properties of Caesars Growth Partners, and projects involving internet
and fantasy sports gaming. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School where he was an editor of
the Law Review and is currently a member of the Board of Visitors.
24
Samuel Lung
Director, Ernst & Young Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services
Samuel Lung is a director in EY’s Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services, focusing on financial
crime compliance advisory services including regulatory compliance reviews in AML, sanctions,
fraud control and investigative matters by assisting financial and non-financial institutions like
banks, securities firms, asset management fund houses, money service operators. He also
works closely with the Asia gaming sector, in particular Macau, assisting the industry to shape
and upgrade their AML, sanctions and anti-bribery and corruption compliance standards. Prior to
joining EY, Samuel worked in the financial sector for a decade, holding senior AML compliance
positions at numerous global banks including Citibank N.A., Credit Suisse AG and HSBC Private
Bank (Suisse) S.A.
Leslie McLeod-Millar
LMM Associates
Leslie MacLeod-Miller has practiced as corporate counsel and legal
consultant for a variety of international companies including the Ladbroke
group, Walt Disney, Hutchison Whampoa and Liberty Media.
He has acted as Chief Executive of the largest gaming lobbying organisation in the United
Kingdom, BACTA, and Vice President of the equivalent European Association, a member of the
Amusement Devices Safety Council for Britain, and now is a sole practitioner specialising in
gaming regulation and compliance. In the UK gambling regulatory environment he acted as a
negotiator with the Department of Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission regarding
policy/ secondary legislation drafting and implementation, drafting amendments for the House
of Commons and the House of Lords.
25
SPEAKER PROFILES
Stephen Martino
Partner, Duane Morris
Stephen Martino is a partner in the Baltimore office of Duane Morris LLP. He
focuses his practice on the casino gaming, lottery, pari-mutuel racing and
interactive gaming industries.
He also engages in a variety of compliance and government affairs matters. From 2010-2015,
Martino served as director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. He oversaw the
operations for one of the world’s largest traditional lotteries, and he directed the expansion of
casino gaming in the state. From 2005 to 2010, he served as executive director of the Kansas
Racing and Gaming Commission, where he managed the establishment of that state’s gaming
regulatory framework and led the opening of its first casino. Martino has bachelor’s degrees
from the University of Kansas and a law degree from Washburn University School of Law.
Kevin P. Mullally
Vice President of Government Relations & General Counsel, GLI
Kevin P. Mullally is Gaming Laboratories International’s chief legal officer and
is responsible for all risk management policies for the company as well as
supervision of all outside attorneys and consultants.
He also serves internationally as GLI’s primary liaison to elected and appointed officials
at the federal, state and local level and regularly interacts with regulatory agencies, key
organizations devoted to developing gaming and casino policy as well as senior executives of
gaming equipment manufacturing companies, lotteries, pari-mutuel wagering facilities, social
gaming companies and casino operators. Mr. Mullally provides GLI with over 30 years of
diversified leadership in law, management, public policy, public relations, economic analysis, and
organizational administration.
26
Larry Potts
Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer & Director of Security,
Scientific Games
Larry joined Scientific Games in 2004 where he serves as the Senior Vice
President, Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Security.
Prior to his retirement from the FBI, he worked violent crime, white collar crime, and organized
crime cases as a street agent. He served as the Inspector-In-Charge of a multi-agency task
force investigation involving the mail bombing deaths of a Federal judge and a civil rights
attorney. Larry received the “Leadership Award” from then President George H. W. Bush in a
Rose Garden ceremony for work on this case. He served in several FBI management roles, to
include Assistant Director in Charge of the Criminal Investigative Division and Deputy Director.
Rui Pinto Proença
Partner & Head of Corporate / Gaming, MdME Macau
Rui is a partner at MdME, where he heads the firm’s Corporate|Gaming
practice.
Having been based in Macau for the past seven years, he has been regularly acting for industry
investors, casino operators, equipment manufacturers and gaming promoters. Rui often assists
issuers, sponsors and underwriters in relation to listings of Macau gaming interests with
overseas capital markets. As of late, Rui has been actively advising sector players in emerging
gaming jurisdictions across the Asia-Pacific region, including operators in Vietnam and the
Philippines and Government agencies in Cambodia and Lao.
27
SPEAKER PROFILES
Paul Richardson
Group Director of Strategy and Corporate Development, The Rank Group
PLC (UK)
A solicitor by training, Paul has been working as an advisor to and latterly an
executive within the gaming industry for the last 15 years.
He is currently the Group Director of Strategy and Corporate Development for The Rank Group
plc in the UK. Prior to Rank, Paul led the International Development team for one of the Macau
concessionaires and was responsible for the development and execution of strategy for entry
into new (Asian) markets. Having also worked in investment banking, mining (!) and law, Paul
has broad experience of advising, investing and operating in a broad range of markets and
sectors.
Jennifer Roberts
Founder, Roberts Gaming Law, Ltd.
Jennifer Roberts has her own boutique law firm, Roberts Gaming Law, Ltd.
She was previously a Partner at Duane Morris LLP and Shareholder at Lionel
Sawyer & Collins.
Her practice focuses on gaming law, including licensing, compliance, and gaming law
development. She also practices in the areas of federal, state, and local alcohol beverage
licensing and control; land use and zoning; and regulatory and administrative law. She is an
adjunct professor of gaming law at the William S. Boyd School of Law and the S.J. Quinney
College of Law at University of Utah.
28
Martha Sabol
IAGA President
Shareholder & Gaming Practice Co-Chair, Greenberg Traurig
Martha A. Sabol is Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Gaming Practice and focuses
her practice on the representation of casino owners, operators and executives, gaming
manufacturers and suppliers, private equity firms, and investment banks on gaming related
matters. Her previous legal experience includes her role as General Counsel/Chief Compliance
Officer with Hyatt Gaming Management, Inc., which owns, manages and consults with casinos in
the United States and abroad. Martha has over 10 years of experience in management, sales
and sales leadership that she gained as an executive in the contract management industry
before beginning her law career.
Scott Scherer
Partner, Holland & Hart
Scott Scherer has more than 28 years’ experience in gaming law and has
seen the gaming regulatory process from different perspectives –
As a regulator (Member of the State Gaming Control Board), as Executive Director of Corporate
Development at IGT, as in-house counsel, and as outside counsel, working to craft solutions
that comply with the law and meet business and regulatory objectives. He has also served
in the Gaming Division of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, as a member of the Nevada
Legislature, a member of the Nevada Commission on Ethics and as General Counsel and
then Chief of Staff for Governor Kenny C. Guinn. He currently serves as a member of Nevada’s
Gaming Policy Committee and as the Chairman of FISH, a non-profit organization providing food,
independence, shelter and health care to people in need.
29
SPEAKER PROFILES
Paul Seeman
General Counsel, Rush Street Gaming
Paul Seeman currently serves as the general counsel of Rush Street Gaming
LLC and LAMB Partners.
At LAMB, a Forbes 400 family office, Paul has played an integral role in the creation of the Rush
Street Gaming platform. At Rush Street, Paul manages the legal affairs of the attorneys and
executives working at each casino property across several states. Additionally, he is helping
craft the legal and business strategy for an online gaming platform. Paul joined LAMB Partners
in 2008 which led to his role with Rush Street. Prior to joining LAMB, Paul worked in the hedge
fund group at Sidley Austin in Chicago and in the corporate group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher in
New York. Paul also currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Illinois Legal Aid Online.
Rolf Sims
Senior Legal Advisor Norwegian Ministry of Culture
Rolf lives in Oslo, Norway, where he graduated with a law degree from
the University of Oslo in 1995, specializing in intellectual property and
international human rights.
He has previously worked on land concessions and area planning at the Ministry of Agriculture
and legislation and individual cases related to oil pollution in the North Sea at the Norwegian
Pollution Control Authority.
Since 1998 he has worked as a gaming regulator, first with the Ministry of Justice and Police,
and since 2001 with the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry is responsible for the regulation of
all gaming in Norway except gaming connected to equestrian activities. In his previous and
current position within gaming his scope of work has encompassed EU/EEA-law, all aspects
of legislation connected to gaming machines, I-gaming, bingo, provisions and regulations on
lotteries and sportsbetting. He has also supervised the administration of Norsk Tipping, the
Norwegian state-owned gaming company, as well as the Norwegian Gaming Authority.
30
Quinton Singleton
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Assistant Secretary, CG
Technology
CG Technology is an innovative gaming technology solutions provider for race
and sports wagering, lottery and gaming.
We specialize in providing secure, scalable, mobile technology and risk management solutions
to integrated resorts, gaming partners, race and sports books, and lottery industries worldwide.
Quinton is Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for CG Technology
and oversees the company’s legal, regulatory, compliance, government affairs, commercial and
corporate matters. Prior to CG Technology, he was a gaming and corporate attorney at Lewis
Roca Rothgerber LLP and a senior auditor for gaming and hospitality clients at Deloitte & Touche
LLP. He also is a CPA and holds an MBA in international business.
Howard Stutz
Strategic Development Manager, Greenberg Traurig
Howard Stutz has spent almost 35 years in Las Vegas as an award-winning
journalist and communications professional.
He recently joined Greenberg Traurig where he is the firm’s strategic development manager for
the Las Vegas office and the Global Gaming Group. For the past 11 years, Howard covered the
casino gaming industry for the Las Vegas Review-Journal from a local, state wide, national and
international perspective. He wrote its twice-a-week “Inside Gaming” column and was part of
the team of journalists that uncovered the Adelson family as the hidden owners behind the
purchase of the newspaper in 2015. The team earned the Sidney Award from the New Yorkbased Sidney Hillman Foundation and the prestigious Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism
from the University of Oregon.
31
SPEAKER PROFILES
Donald R. Sweitzer
Chairman, IGT Global Solutions
Donald R. Sweitzer is the chairman of IGT Global Solutions, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of International Game Technology PLC, the world’s leading end-toend gaming company.
He was formerly the senior vice president of global business development and public affairs for
GTECH, a predecessor of IGT, where he oversaw worldwide business development, government
relations and public relations.
Sweitzer is also chairman of the board of directors of the International Foundation for Electoral
Systems (IFES), a non-government organization that supports citizens’ rights to participate in free
and fair elections. He is the former chairman of the finance board of the Democratic Governors
Association (DGA) and a current member of the board. Sweitzer was the political director of the
Democratic National Committee (DNC) during the first term of former President Bill Clinton. He
had senior roles in both the 1992 and 1996 campaigns of President Clinton. From 1985 to 1989,
Sweitzer served as the finance director of the Democratic National Committee.
Harrie Temmink
Deputy Head of Unit Online and Postal Services, European Commission
Harrie Temmink is currently Deputy Head of the Public Interest Services
unit, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European
Commission. He chairs the Expert Group on Gambling Services.
Harrie has a Dutch Law degree and a Spanish Language and Literature degree from the
University of Utrecht (the Netherlands). After his studies he became a lecturer in Public
Economic Law at the same university while part-time working at the Netherlands Competition
Authority. From 2000-2003, he served as a Legal Secretary at the Court of Justice of the
European Communities (Luxembourg).
In the period 2003-2008 he was employed at the industrial property unit of DG Internal Market.
From 2008- 2010 he was Member of Cabinet of Mrs Meglena Kuneva, Commissioner for
Consumer Protection.
32
Masahiro Terada
Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCooper Japan (PwC)
Masahiro Terada is the leader of the Integrated Resorts service team in PwC
Japan.
He has vast knowledge and 25 years consulting experience related to the city planning and
the project management of urban development. He worked to maximize a land value through
the redevelopment project in Japan, China and Philippines. And negotiated with government
to get a development permit and building permit. He has another experience as the developer
of the integrated resort project on 44 hectors site in Manila Philippines. He was a former
representative of the owner and took charge to launch the casino venue since 2011-2014. Also
finalized the casino operational manual among four locators with the Regulator.
Tatiana Van Lier
Head of Public Affairs, Dutch Charity Lotteries
Mrs. T. (Tatiana) van Lier studied Public Administration and International
Affairs in Amsterdam and Rome and started her career as a project manager
and fundraiser for projects in the field of ageing.
In 2005 she started working as a PhD researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,
implementing a pilot study on the organization of lotteries in five different European countries,
resulting in the publication “The leeway of lotteries in the European Union”. Shortly after that
she started to work at the Dutch Charity Lotteries (Postcode Lottery, Friends Lottery, BankGiro
Lottery). The Dutch Charity Lotteries are the largest private fundraisers of the Netherlands,
donating 50% of every ticket to over 200 charities. Tatiana set up the public and European
affairs department. As head of Public Affairs she is responsible for stakeholdersmanagement,
issue management, interest representation, lobby and public and European affairs in general.
33
SPEAKER PROFILES
Gil White
Gaming Department Joint Head, HFN
As the joint head of HFN’s Gaming department, Gil White has, for over a
decade, counselled the world’s leading internet gaming companies with
respect to corporate and commercial issues.
His practice focuses on advising clients on a range of issues related to the law of online
gaming, concentrating primarily on matters pertaining to licensing, regulation, litigation and dayto-day operations. Gil has coordinated initial public offerings and M&A transactions on behalf
of online gaming companies which have proved to be standard-setting in this nascent industry.
Recognized by Chambers Global as a Band 1 lawyer in Gaming & Gambling, Gil is currently at
the forefront of working with HFN’s clients to secure licensing and regulation in newly regulated
jurisdictions such as the State of Nevada, Spain and Denmark.
Jenny Williams
CEO and Board Member, UK Gambling Commission (retired)
Jenny Williams was until late 2015 the CEO and a Commissioner of the
Gambling Commission UK.
She was appointed in 2014, after a long career in government, to set up the Gambling
Commission created by the Gambling Act 2005. Jenny is now on the Board of the UK
(charitable) Fundraising Regulator , an independent Director on GB Greyhound Regulatory Board,
on the Advisory Board of the International Center for Gaming Regulation at the University of
Las Vegas and advises internationally on gambling and other regulatory policy and practise.
She was a trustee of IAGR from 2007-14 and a member of the EU Expert Group of Regulators
2013-5. She has been vice chair of a leading homelessness charity, a non-executive director of
Northumbrian Water Group plc; the National Campaign for Arts; and of Morley College, an adult
education college.
34
35
REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDING
GREF REPRESENTATIVES
Name
Title
Organisation
Country
Mikael Juresta
Lawyer
Government Office of Aland
Aland
Lord Richard Faulkner
Chairman
Alderney Gambling Control
Commission
Alderney
Jorn Starck
Executive Director
Alderney Gambling Control
Commission
Alderney
Marjolein De Paepe
Head of Communication
Belgian Gaming Commission
Belgium
Feyzi Bekir
Deputy Minister of Finance
Ministry of Finance
Bulgaria
Marina Ivanova
Chief Expert - Public Relations
Ministry of Finance - State
Commission on Gambling
Bulgaria
Reneta Tsvetkova
Chief Specialist - Administrative and Ministry of Finance - State
Financial Affairs
Commission on Gambling
Bulgaria
Ondrej Plesmid
Lawyer
Ministry of Finance - Gambling and
Lottery Supervision Department
Jan Madsen
Head of Division - Policy and
Finance
The Danish Gambling Authority
Denmark
Martin Ipsen
Chief Adviser - Policy and Finance
The Danish Gambling Authority
Denmark
Taivo Pork
Lawyer
Ministry of Finance of Estonia
Estonia
Dina Isand
Chief Specialist
Ministry of Finance of Estonia
Estonia
Sari Laitakari
Senior Adviser
National Police Board
Finland
Jarkko Mikkola
Senior Adviser
National Police Board
Finland
Charles Coppolani
President
ARJEL - French Online Gaming
Regulatory Authority
France
Claire Pinson
European and International Affairs
Officer
France
Carole Leduc
Project Officer in Charge of
Responsible Gambling
France
Christophe Vidal
Investigation and Enforcement –
Licensed Operators Manager
France
Dr. Dietmar Barth
36
Czech Republic
Hessian Ministry of the Interior and
of Sports
Germany
Phill Brear
Gambling Commissioner
Gambling Division - H.M.
Government of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
David Walsh
Gambling Regulator
Gibraltar
Nicholas Rodriguez
Gambling Regulator
Gibraltar
Nick Tofiluk
Executive Director
GB Gambling Commission
Great Britain
Richard Bayliss
Manager - Online Specialist
Great Britain
Sharon McNair
Programme Director
Great Britain
Name
Title
Organisation
Country
Antonios Stergiotis
President
Hellenic Gaming Commission
Greece
Anastasia Prapiadou
Head of Regulation and Social
Responsibility
Greece
Panagiota Theodosi
Head of Planning Department
Greece
Dimitrios Papadopoulos
Head of Control and Compliance
Directorate
Greece
Dr. Annamaria Moticska Vadszn
Deputy Head of Department
National Tax and Customs Administration Gambling Supervision
Hungary
Andrea Bacsa
Legal Adviser
National Tax and Customs Administration Gambling Supervision
Hungary
Steve Brennan
Chief Executive Officer
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision
Commission
Isle of Man
Mark Rutherford
Deputy Chief Executive
Commission
Isle of Man
Ronald Spencer
Chairman
Commission
Isle of Man
Dr. Jason Lane
Chief Executive
Jersey Gambling Commission
Jersey
David Evans
Head of Legal and Regulation
Jersey
Matthew Viney
Technical and Compliance Officer
Jersey
Graham White
Chairman
Jersey
Cyril Whelan
Deputy Chairman
Jersey
Debbie Sebire
Commissioner
Jersey
Signe Birne
Director
Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory
Inspection
Latvia
Janis Ungurs
Director of Legal Department
Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory
Inspection
Latvia
Virginijus Dauksys
Director
Ministry of Finance - Gaming Control
Authority
Lithuania
Simas Levulis
Acting Head of Gaming Devices
Ministry of Finance - Gaming Control
Type Approval and Register Division Authority
Lithuania
Joseph Cuschieri
Executive Chairman
Malta Gaming Authority
Malta
Heathcliff Farrugia
Chief Officer - Authorisations
Malta
Dr. Edwina Licari
Chief Officer - Legal and
International Affairs
Malta
Rachel Mifsud Bonnici
Chief Officer - Compliance
Malta
Helga Pizzuto
Chief Officer - Business and
Programme Development
Malta
Dominic Micallef
Chief Officer - Enforcement
Malta
Marja Appelman
Chief Executive
Netherlands Gaming Authority
Netherlands
Robert Biegel
Executive Advisor - International
Affairs
Netherlands
Freek Kort
Head of Licensing Department
Netherlands
Netherlands
Flora Felso
37
GREF REPRESENTATIVES
Name
Title
Organisation
Country
Rolf Francis Sims
Senior Legal Advisor
Norwegian Ministry of Culture
Norway
Atle Hamar
Director General
The Norwegian Gaming Authority
Norway
Linda Vollestad Westbye
Deputy Director General
Norway
Jonny Engebø
Senior Adviser
Norway
Elna Berge
Deputy Director General (Lotteries)
Norway
Trude Felde
Senior Adviser
Norway
Pawel Bienkowski
Head of Unit - Sectoral, Local and
Gambling Tax Department
Ministry of Finance
Poland
Marta Ziarko
Head of Unit - Sectoral, Local and
Gambling Tax Department
Ministry of Finance
Poland
Paulo Duarte Lopes
Director
Turismo de Portugal, IP
Portugal
Turismo de Portugal, IP
Portugal
Dr. Rui Fona
38
Håkan Hallstedt
Director General
Swedish Gambling Authority
Sweden
Maria Wennerberg Sedigh
Senior Adviser
Sweden
Joel Kitti-Junros
Statistican and Business Intelligence
Officer
Sweden
Jean-Marie Jordan
Director
Swiss Federal Gaming Board
Switzerland
Pascal Philipona
Lawyer
Swiss Lottery and Betting Board
Switzerland
Reto Brand
Senior Legal Adviser
Federal Office of Justice
Switzerland
OBSERVERS
Name
Title
Organisation
Jose Cardoso
General Inspector
Generale Inspectorate of Gambling
Cape Verde
Carlos Teixeira
Deputy General Inspector
Generale Inspectorate of Gambling
Cape Verde
Bheki Mlambo
Chief Executive
Mpumalanga Gambling Board
South Africa
Mpumalanga Gambling Board
South Africa
Cedrick Chiloane
Departmental Manager Communications
Country
Lawrence Lee
Director
Casino Regulatory Authority
Singapore
Lai Yin Wong
Senior Manager
Casino Regulatory Authority
Singapore
39
COUNTRY REPORT
THE ÅLAND ISLANDS
ÅLAND GOVERNMENT
Website
Number of employees
Authority established in
Ministry responsible
Other authorities involved in national gambling issues
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.aland.ax
2-3
1.1 2017
Government office
None
Mikael Juresta
+358 18 25172
mikael.juresta@regeringen.ax
The Åland Gambling Market
The gambling market of Åland consists of a casino in Mariehamn and casinos on ferries
crossing the Baltic Sea. The gambling company Paf has its head office in Mariehamn.
Currently two operators have permission for gambling on Åland:
• Penningautomatföreningen (Paf) owned by the local government of Åland.
• Veikkaus Ab, is a state owned company from Finland.
The Åland Gambling Authority
The Government offices are the gambling supervisor in Åland. The gambling supervising function
is currently managed within the government office by a legal official.
40
Recent developments
The bill for a new Gambling Authority passed the Åland parliament autumn 2015. Foundation and
creation of the Authority will start after parliament has allocated resources in spring 2016. The new
Gambling Authority on Åland is expected to be operational 1.1 2017.
The Åland Gambling Authority will have 4 main responsibilities:
•
•
•
•
Follow the development in the gambling sector and other areas affected by the lottery law.
Work preventively together with the gambling companies.
Supervise the gambling regulation, and suggest improvements on gambling regulations.
Give guidance and advice on areas regulated by the new lottery law.
At the same time a new lottery law was enacted by the Åland parliament. The new lottery law is highly
anticipated by both the market and the Government as the old lottery law was 60 years old.
The new lottery law introduces many new regulations and one of them is that gambling shall be
organized in such a manner that social and health problems are minimized.
The new lottery law will give the Gambling Authority power to make controls and sanctions against illegal
gambling activities.
41
COUNTRY REPORT
ALDERNEY
ALDERNEY GAMBLING CONTROL COMMISSION
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.gamblingcontrol.org
20
1999
Policy and Finance Committee, States of Alderney.
None
Jorn Starck, Executive Director
+44 1481 825500
jorn.starck@agcc.gg
The Alderney Gambling Market
Licensed activity is restricted to remote gambling including e-casino, P2P games and sports
book. There is no terrestrial casino jurisdiction.
The Gambling Authority
The AGCC was established to ensure and maintain the integrity of
electronic gambling activities regulated by the Commission.
The primary objective is to protect and enhance the reputation of Alderney as a first tier
regulatory jurisdiction by seeking to ensure that:
• All electronic gambling is conducted honestly and fairly and in compliance with good
governance;
• The funding, management and operation of electronic gambling remains free from criminal
influence; and
• Electronic gambling is regulated and monitored so as to protect the interests of the
young and the vulnerable.
42
Recent developments
In 2015 the AGCC revised its fee structure to better reflect operations of licensees and introduced a
fee for Gambling Business Associates to reflect the work necessary to ensure that those who associate
with eGambling licensees and Category 2 Associate Certificate holders are suitable entities to be
involved in eGambling.
Other vital facts
In conjunction with the regulators in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and Denmark the
AGCC has arrived at common standards for game testing. In addition the AGCC has arrived at
a reciprocal approach to game testing with the United Kingdom in order to prevent duplicative
testing.
43
COUNTRY REPORT
BELGIUM
THE BELGIAN GAMING COMMISSION
Website
Number of employees
Commission
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.gamingcommission.be
35
Gaming Act of May 7th 1999
Justice
6 ministers are represented in the Gaming
Justice - Economy – Finance – Public Health – Internal
Affairs – Ministry for the National Lottery
Marjolein De Paepe
+3225040054
marjolein.depaepe@gamingcommission.be
The Belgian Gambling Market: The Belgian Gaming Commission is charged with the regulation
of games of chance in casinos, slot arcades, drinking establishments, betting, media games,
internet + illegal gambling market (on the Belgian territory).
The Belgian Gaming Commission has four duties: Her most important task is the protection of
the players. Also, she offers advice to the government and parliament. Furthermore, her main
task is to decide on the granting or refusal of different types of licences. Finally, the Gaming
Commission operates as a supervisory body.
44
45
COUNTRY REPORT
BULGARIA
STATE COMMISSION ON GAMBLING
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.dkh.minfin.bg
49
01/09/1999
Ministry of Finance
None
Marina Ivanova
+359298595804
m.ivanova@dkh.minfin.bg
The Bulgarian Gambling Market
The gambling market in Bulgaria consists of:
• Lottery games (Conventional lottery, Raffles, Lottery game with numbers, Instant lottery);
• Games of betting on the outcome of sports competitions and horse and greyhound racing;
• Games of betting on chance events and of betting related to the accurate guessing of
facts;
• Games played on gambling machines and games at a gambling casino.
The games except of raffles and instant lottery may also be organized online
The Gambling Act regulates the conditions and procedures for:
1. Organising of games;
2. Organising of activities of manufacturing, distribution and servicing of gambling
equipment and import, distribution and servicing of gambling equipment;
3. Issuing, extending, revocation, and termination of licenses for these activities;
4. Control over these activities.
The Bulgarian Gambling Authority
The Bulgarian State Commission on Gambling (SCG) has been established for the purpose of
inspecting the compliance with the law of the activity of the gambling games organisers, the
producers of gambling game equipment, the distributors and service organisations for the
maintenance and repair works of such equipment performed on the territory of Bulgaria.
46
Recent developments
The State Gambling Commission updated and built a convenient online information and communication
environment which automated many administrative activities in favour of the business.
In 2015 were officially introduced and adopted regulations governing social responsible gaming
programs in the industry, which will give new impetus to the dedicated responsible behaviour towards
prevention of addictions in the country.
In the summer of 2015 the Government adopted a Regulation stating the terms and conditions for
disbursement of funds financing non-profit organizations with regard of execution of approved projects
for socially responsible behaviour in compliance to Art. 10a of the Gambling Act. Since 2014 the
gambling operators have been supposed to make annual cash contributions to the dedicated socially
responsible behaviour fund, but non regulatory framework or a regulation has been introduced about
proper utilization of this resource. The new Regulation also introduced terms and conditions of
recruitment, assessment and selection of proposals for financing of socially responsible behaviour
projects as well as defined funding criteria. The socially responsible behaviour activities eligible to
receive approval and funding by the State Commission on Gambling are as following: Protection of young
people from gambling, prevention and treatment of gambling addiction as well as conducting socially
responsible advertising and marketing campaigns
Other vital facts
The traditional land-based segments of casinos and gaming halls has collectively grown by about
20%.
In 2015, the number of issued legal license for gaming operations both land-based and offline
was noticeably increased with the exception of the licenses for live casino operation which
decreased from 25 to 24.
The Regulation of the online sector and remote gaming in 2013 added new, wide horizon of
market elaboration which so far has been dominated by Bulgarian companies with broad local
experience. Although by the end of the year there were only 13 valid online and remote gaming
licenses, there is a reported significant booming in market penetration of various remote gaming
platforms which attract the audience and continue to gain popularity.
47
COUNTRY REPORT
DENMARK
THE DANISH GAMBLING AUTHORITY
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.spillemyndigheden.dk
Approx. 80
2000
Ministry of Taxation
The department of the Ministry of Taxation, The National
Tax Authority, The Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Justice, The Danish Consumer
Ombudsman, The Financial Supervisory Authority,
The Gambling addiction treatment centres, The Police
Birgitte Sand, Director, Havneholmen 25, 7. Sal
DK 1561 København V, Denmark
(+45) 25 44 05 03
bs@spillemyndigheden.dk
The Danish Gambling Market
The regulated Danish gambling market is a combination of liberalised, monopolised and partly monopolised
gambling activities. The regulated gambling market consists of lotteries, gaming machines, betting, online
and land based casinos, dog and horse races as well as public poker tournaments. As of January 2016:
a. 28 operators have a license to provide online casino
b. 15 operators have a licence to provide betting. When you obtain
a licence, you can provide both online and land based betting.
c. 9 operators have a restricted revenue licences for either betting
or online casino games – a restricted revenue licence is valid for
one year and is subject to the licence holder’s GGR, which must
not exceed 1 M DKK (approximately 135,000 EUR).
d. Lotto, scratch card games with money prizes, online bingo and
betting on horse and dog races is operated by the State owned
company “Danske Lotteri Spil A/S” and in addition lotteries are
provided by “Det danske Klasselotteri A/S”, “Almindeligt Dansk
Vare- og Industrilotteri (Varelotteriet)” and “Landbrugslotteriet”.
e. 7 land-based casinos.
f. Approximately 40 licences to organise public poker tournaments.
g. Approx. 400 license holders and 25,000 gaming machines.
h. 675 permissions were granted to offer charity lotteries with a
turnover above 20,000 DKK.
48
Land-based casinos
4%
Horseracing
1%
Online
cassino
16%
Lotteries
38%
Slot Machines
19%
Betting
24%
The Danish Gambling Authority (DGA)
The DGA is an executive agency under the Ministry of Taxation, in line with the National Tax Authority
and the Tax Appeals Agency. The authority consists of a central unit covering three divisions (Licencing,
Compliance, Policy and Finance) and one regional enforcement (Land-based Gambling).
The DGA is responsible for protecting players by securing a proper and regulated market in Denmark.
The DGA’s main tasks include:
• licensing, administration and supervision of the Danish gambling market;
• providing services for the Ministry of Taxation in the field of gambling, processing cases and
interpretation of statutes; and
• international cooperation.
Recent developments
In 2015, the DGA pursued its mission and mandate to ensure a well-regulated gambling market
in Denmark. National and international cooperation have been important elements in securing an
attractive market. We continue to estimate the illegal gambling market in Denmark to be of a modest
size.
International cooperation remains a high priority for the Danish Gambling Authority. Thus, in 2015 we
participated in a number of conferences and task forces and visited various authorities and companies
to increase our knowledge of the international gambling market including developments in technology
and legislative areas.
The Danish Act on Gambling was amended in late 2015 to empower the Danish Minister for Taxation, as
of January 1, 2016, to lay down rules on measures to prevent match-fixing and impose duties on licence
holders to report to the Danish Gambling Authority.
The Danish Gambling Authority participates in an Expert Group on Gambling Services lead by the
Directorate-Generals (DG) GROW. The Group recently concluded its three-year term, which has been
extended by another three years.
In 2015, a study regarding the extent of problem gambling in Denmark commenced. The last survey
was conducted in 2005. The Danish National Centre for Social Research is responsible for the survey;
however, the Danish Gambling Authority is contributing as well.
In the autumn 2015, the government announced its plan to relocate government jobs to other regions of
Denmark. As part of the government’s plan, the Danish Gambling Authority will move from Copenhagen
to Odense in late 2016. At the time of writing, the exact new address is unknown.
Other vital facts
The DGA will publish its fourth annual report in April 2016.
49
COUNTRY REPORT
ESTONIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
Estonia lacks authority dedicated solely to gambling regulation. Ministry of Finance (www.fin.ee) is responsible for
policy and legislation and participates in GREF, while licensing and supervision of operators is among the tasks of Tax
and Customs Board (www.emta.ee).
Contact
Mr Taivo Põrk (policy/legislation)
Telephone
+ 372 611 3585
Email
taivo.pork@fin.ee
Contact
Telephone
Email
Mr Ranno Aednurm (licensing/supervision)
+372 676 2023
ranno.aednurm@emta.ee
The Estonian Gambling Market
Estonia has an open licensing regime, except for lotteries, where government monopoly is
enforced. There is no limit on number of licenses which may be granted. List of licensed
operators can be accessed here: http://www.emta.ee/index.php?id=32822 and as of April
2016 includes 16 licensees.
Tax rates are:
•
•
•
•
5% of GGR for betting and online games of chance;
5% of entrance fees of poker tournaments;
5% of rake from poker cash games;
300€/month per gaming machine and 1280€/month per table, plus 10% of GGR for landbased games of chance;
• 18% on sales for lotteries.
Taxes are payable for operators; for players, all winnings from licensed gambling operators are
exempted from income tax
Gambling Act (in English, kept up to date).
https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/509012015007/consolide
Gambling Tax Act (in English, kept up to date).
https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/502032015001/consolide
Gambling Prevalence Study, 2014
http://www.15410.ee/pdf/Gambling_prevalence_in_Estonia2014_EN.pdf
50
Recent developments
Since 01.02.2015, prize pools of offline poker tournaments are no longer subject to gambling tax.
Entrance fees remain taxable at 5%.
Since 01.01.2016, self-exclusion regime which formerly affected only participation in games of chance
has been expanded: players can now exclude themselves also from betting and classical lotteries.
Instant lotteries (scratch-cards) remain available for the time being.
Concurrently, restrictions on advertising betting and lottery products were ameliorated. However, adverts
need to include following warning “Attention! This is a gambling advertisement. Gambling is not a
suitable means for solving financial problems. Examine the rules and behave responsibly!”
51
COUNTRY REPORT
FINLAND
THE NATIONAL POLICE BOARD, GAMBLING ADMINISTRATION
Website
Number of employees
www.poliisi.fi/licences/gambling_administration_department
24
2001
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of
Education and Culture, Ministry of Agriculture,
Ministry of Finance, The National Institute of Health and
Welfare
Contact
Ms. Saaramia Varvio, Chief of Gambling Administration,
P.O. Box 50, 111 01 Riihimäki, Finland
Telephone
Email
+358 295 481881, +358 50 456 0814
saaramia.varvio@poliisi.fi
The Finnish Gambling Market
The regulated Finnish Gambling market comprise of:
• three state controlled sectors
• casino games, slot machines, casino (the exclusive right of Finland’s Slot Machine
Association by the Lotteries Act)
• money lotteries, scratch cards, sports betting and pools (the exclusive right of Veikkaus
Oy by the Lotteries Act)
• horse race betting (the exclusive right of Fintoto Oy by the Lotteries Act)
• non-money lotteries, guessing games and bingo games with non-money prizes run by nonprofit associations
• amusement games.
The Finnish Gambling Authority
The National Police Board is a central administrative authority reporting to the Ministry of
the Interior. Gambling Administration is responsible for tasks imposed on the National Police
Board in the Lotteries Act, the Money Collection Act and the Act on Amusement Machines. The
Gambling Administration’s functions have been regionalised outside the Helsinki Metropolitan
Area and are located in Riihimäki, some 70 kilometres north of Helsinki.
The Authority’s main aim is to:
• guarantee the legal protection of the lottery participants
• prevent abuse and criminal activity
• reduce social and health problems associated with lotteries.
52
The Gambling Administration is responsible for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
national supervision of the running of all lotteries
keeping statistical records on lotteries
licensing of non-money lotteries and bingo games
inspection of the accounts for non-money lotteries and bingo games
general supervision and guidance of and the statistics on arrangement of money collections
licensing of the money collections and inspection of accounts for money collections.
The Gambling Administration also engages in cooperation with other agencies in its field in the Nordic
countries and internationally.
Recent developments
Since October 2015 the Ministry of the Interior has been preparing a bill according to which the
gambling activities of the three gambling operators Veikkaus Oy, Finland’s Slot Machine Association and
Fintoto Oy are to be merged. The bill is planned to be submitted to the parliament in the beginning of
the fall 2016 and the reformed legislation to come into force and the new company to be running from
the 1st of January 2017. The merger will further reinforce Finland’s consistent and systematic gambling
policy and contribute to preventing the negative effects of gambling.
In addition to the merger, the supervision of operating gambling is to be reinforced by strengthening the
independence and status of Gambling Administration within the National Police Board.
Other vital facts
The regulations on preventing money laundering and financing of terrorism are being reformed in
Finland in 2016 in accordance with the EU directive 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of
the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing.
In 2016 Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have been preparing a joint benchmarking report
on the tasks, responsibilities and resources of the authorities responsible for the supervision of
operating gambling together. A similar report has previously been prepared in 2006 and 2012.
53
COUNTRY REPORT
FRANCE
FRENCH ONLINE GAMBLING AUTHORITY (ARJEL)
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.arjel.fr
49
2010
NA, ARJEL is an independent administrative authority
Ministry of Budget (regulation of the French monopolies,
i.e;: FDJ for land-based and online lotteries, and landbased sport betting + PMU for land-based horse-race
betting)
Minister for Agriculture (regulation of land-based horserace betting with the Ministry of Budget)
Minister of Interior (SCCJ, French police service
dedicated to the supervision of casinos)
Claire Pinson, ARJEL European and International Affairs
+33 1 57 13 13 00
claire.pinson@arjel.fr
The French Online Gambling Market
In France, online gambling services are regulated by Law no. 2010-476 of 12 May 2010. The
opening up to competition of the online market has been restricted to three sectors: online
sports betting, online horse-race betting and online poker.
At the end of 2015, 16 operators held 29 licenses: 11 in sports betting, 8 in horse race betting
and 10 in poker.
The trends recorded in 2014 were continued in 2015. Moreover, the sports betting sector was
the only component of the online gambling market to experience a growth dynamic that was
accentuated in 2015. Alternatively horse racing betting records show a continual reduction and
are down for the fourth consecutive year. Finally, the decline of poker activity is prolonged due to
the drop in cash gaming bets being recorded.
Bets recorded for sports betting in 2015 amounted to EUR 1,440 million representing an
increase of 30% compared to 2014. The Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of all operators in 2015
reached EUR 270m, an increase of 19% compared to 2014. In 2015, the payout ratio rates for
sports betting varied between 81.7 before bonuses delivery and 83.3% after bonuses delivery.
The increase of almost 2 points in payout ratio explains the difference between the growth rate
in betting and the GGR between 2014 and 2015. However, with tax contribution increases linked
54
to sports betting, the Net Gaming Product (NGP) of the operators increased over the year in reduced
proportions (+6%).
The decline in horse race betting can be highlighted by the dynamism of sports betting sector. Until
2013, bets recorded in online horse race betting were significantly higher than those achieved in sports
betting (EUR 263 million). 2014 was the first year that the level of bets recorded in horse racing betting
was below the level of bets placed for sports betting (EUR 73 million). In 2015, the phenomenon
accelerated and the variation in receipts between both activities reached nearly EUR 425 million. Bets
recorded for horse racing betting in 2015 amounted to EUR 1,016 million, an amount 2% lower than
that recorded in 2014. The level of recorded horse race bets in 2015 is historically the lowest in any
calendar year since the online gambling market opened in France in 2010. Logically, the operator’s
annual GGR in 2015 amounted to EUR 254 million, a reduction of 1% in relation to 2014. The effect
on the market of the separation of gaming into two separate entities which the PMU conducted on
December 10, 2015 is currently analyzed.
The decline in poker activity observed since 2013 continued in 2015. The annual bets recorded in cash
game reached EUR 3,729 million in 2015 representing a reduction of 14% compared to 2014. Recalling
last year, cash game activity had reduced by the same proportion. Conversely, entry fees to tournaments
went up by 14% compared to 2014, reaching EUR 1,772 million. Therefore, player disinterest in cash
game once again created a drop in the online poker sector. The operators GGR in 2015 for poker
amounted to EUR 232 million, a reduction of 4% compared to the previous year.
The full 2015 report on online gambling market in France is available on demand.
The French Online Gambling Authority (ARJEL)
According to Law no. 2010-476 of 12 May 2010 on the opening up to competition and regulation of the
online gambling sector, the aim of the national gambling policy is to restrict and regulate the provision
and use of gambling, and to oversee how it is operated in order to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Prevent excessive or pathological gambling and protect minors;
Ensure the integrity, reliability and transparency of gambling operations;
Prevent fraudulent and criminal activities, as well as money laundering and financing of terrorism;
Ensure the balanced, fair development of various types of games, in order to avoid any economic
destabilization of the sectors concerned.
Given the risks of public order and social order, online gambling and betting that draw on players’ knowhow, as well as games that require the simultaneous involvement of more than one player, are subject
to an authorization system under the conditions provided for by Law no. 2010-476.
ARJEL ensures that online gambling and betting activities that require authorization comply with
the national gambling policy objectives. In order to ensure compliance with these objectives, ARJEL
implements a permanent control of the authorized online gambling and betting operators’ activity.
55
FRANCE
FRENCH ONLINE GAMBLING AUTHORITY (ARJEL)
It monitors online gambling and betting operations and participates in the fight against illegal
sites and fraud.
For each sporting discipline, ARJEL specifies the types of competitions and the types of
competition results on which online sports bets can be placed.
ARJEL holds available to the online horse race betting operators the schedule of French and
foreign horse races or horse races’ meetings on which online horse racing bets can be placed,
as agreed by the Minister in charge of agriculture.
ARJEL proposes to competent ministers the specifications’ file listing the authorization
requirements. ARJEL examines the application files of online gambling and betting operators
seeking for authorization and delivers the authorizations.
ARJEL provides an opinion on any draft text related to online gambling sector subject to
authorization which it receives from the Government. ARJEL may propose to the Government
legal amendments that seem necessary in the pursuing of the national gambling policy
objectives.
ARJEL establishes the technical characteristics of the platforms and software of the online
gambling and betting operators subject to authorization. It approves the gambling and betting
software used by the operators. It regularly assesses the security level provided on the gambling
platforms of the operators. It specifies, where necessary, the technical parameters of online
games. ARJEL ensures the quality of the technical certifications provided by the authorized
operators and can modify the certification bodies’ list.
ARJEL evaluates the results of the authorized operators in the field of excessive or pathological
gambling prevention and may address them recommendations on this issue. In the form of
reasoned decision, ARJEL can limit commercial offers involving the delivering of a financial
reward to the players.
A full presentation of the French online gambling regulatory model is available on demand.
56
Recent developments
ARJEL chairs the monitoring Board of the French national platform to fight manipulation of
sports competitions
On 2nd October 2014, the French Minister for Sports signed the Council of Europe Convention
on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions. On 28th January 2016, the French national
platform has been established under the chairmanship of the Minister for Sports in order to
anticipate on the entry into force of the Convention, pursuant to the provisions of Article 13
thereof.
The platform gathers representatives of the Ministries of Sports, Justice, Home Affairs,
Finances, as well as ARJEL, the French State-owned sports betting offline monopoly (La
Française des Jeux -FDJ), the French National Olympic Committee and the sports movement.
The platform comprises two Boards: ARJEL chairs the Board dedicated to the monitoring of the
French sports betting market while the French Directorate for sports chairs the Board aiming at
coordinating the prevention of and fight against manipulation of sports competitions. Biannual
plenary sessions under the chairmanship of the Minister for Sports will enable to provide
reports on the actions undertaken by the two Boards.
The monitoring Board chaired by ARJEL is in charge of:
• implementing any tool enabling the detection of betting related manipulation of sports
competitions on the French sports betting market (both online and offline, thanks to an
administrative partnership between ARJEL and FDJ);
• centralizing and analysing information related to irregular and suspicious sports betting
on sports competition held on the French territory;
• issuing alerts, where appropriate;
• cooperating with national and international stakeholders taking part into the detection of
betting related manipulations of sports competitions.
57
COUNTRY REPORT
GREAT BRITAIN
GREAT BRITAIN GAMBLING COMMISSION
Website
Number of employees
Other authorities involved in national gambling
issues
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.gamblingcommission.go.uk
272
2005
The Commission is a non-departmental public body
(NDPB) sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media
and Sport (DCMS).
Local Licensing authorities (premises licences)
Victoria Square House, Birmingham, B2 4BP
+44 121 230 6666
info@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
The Gambling Commission Market
The UK permits gambling in the form of gaming, betting and lotteries and as at 30 September
2015 licenses some 3000 operators for the following activities
Arcades: -1,475 adult gaming centres, 297 family entertainment centres
Betting –8819 betting premises
Bingo- 615 bingo venues
Casino -148 casinos
Gaming machine supply,manufacture and maintenance
Gambling Software development, supply and maintenance- 210 operators
Lotteries (484) and external lottery managers Remote gambling - 311 operators offering
casino, betting or bingo.
The Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission (the Commission) was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to
regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain in partnership with licensing authorities. Gambling
is viewed as a mainstream leisure activity subject to effective regulation.
The Commission’s principal duty in law is to aim to permit gambling as long as it is crime free,
fair and open, and children and vulnerable people are protected.
On 1 October 2013 the Gambling Commission took over the responsibilities of the National
Lottery Commission to regulate the National Lottery under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993.
following the coming into force of the Public Bodies (Merger of the Gambling Commission and
the National Lottery Commission) Order 2013.
58
From 1 November 2014 the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act came into force .The Act amended
the Gambling Act 2005 to require all gambling operators transacting with consumers in Great Britain to
hold the appropriate operating licence. These changes ensure that all remote gambling operators offering
services to British consumers are subject to consistent regulation and British online gambling consumers
will also have the same protections regardless of which operators that gamble with.
With nearly a decade’s experience of regulating remote gambling and following the implementation of
the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act, the Commission has over the past year strengthened the
License Conditions and Codes of Practice provisions relating to social responsibility and compliance
with the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority’s code. The requirements for providing players with the
ability to set financial limits and to self-exclude have been enhanced.
Sport and Sports Betting Integrity
The UK Sports and Sport Betting Integrity Action Plan (the Plan) was published in September 2015
(http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/pdf/SBI-Action-Plan.pdf) and is referred to within the
governments National Anti-Corruption Plan. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/
attachment_data/file/388894/UKantiCorruptionPlan.pdf.
The Plan sets out the focus of agencies, betting operators, Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs), player
associations and government in delivering timely and effective actions to identify and control risks
associated with match-fixing and sports betting integrity.
The Plan establishes a framework of actions to prevent sporting events and licensed sporting betting
markets from being corrupted and deter persons from organising corrupt sports events to manipulate
betting markets.
It recognises the need for stakeholders to plan for and act within their areas of responsibility and work
as part of the broader national platform that is the basis of our strategic approach and in line with the
provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (http://
www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/215)
The Plan also reflects the fact that the UK is not immune from international influences and may involve
organised crime networks operating at national and international level using sophisticated technologies
and organisational structures.
Working in support of the Plan is the Sports Betting Integrity Forum (SBIF) which was established in
2012 (www.sbif.uk). It brings together representatives from sports governing bodies, betting operators,
sport and betting trade associations, law enforcement and gambling regulation.
SBIF meets every quarter to reports progress and identify issues to be resolved, although engagement
between members is continual. The Commission acts as lead agency for the Plan provides the
secretariat function for SBIF with chairs rotating between senior representatives of sport and betting
operators.
59
GREAT BRITAIN
GREAT BRITAIN GAMBLING COMMISSION
The Commission is an independent non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It is funded by fees set by DCMS and paid by the organisations
and individuals it licenses, and, in respect of National Lottery functions, by grant from the National
Lottery Distribution Fund
Recent developments
New Chief Executive, Sarah Harrison, took up her role on 1 October 2015.
Other vital facts
From 6 April 2016 all non-remote casino, bingo, betting and adult gaming centre licensees must
contribute to and participate in the development and effective implementation of multi-operator
self-exclusion schemes with the aim of making available to consumers the ability to self-exclude
from facilities for gambling provided by other licensed operators within their local area.
A similar scheme for remote operators is still being developed and will be introduced in due
course.
On 6 April 2015 new regulations were introduced that are designed to increase the opportunity
for customer control and operator interaction with customers by preventing individuals from
staking more than £50 on a Category B2 gaming machine (other than where the machine is
located in a casino) unless the player has identified themselves either by making payment to use
the machine over the counter or via an account based system,. This is intended to increasing the
levels of supervision.
The Commission has worked closely with its regulatory colleagues in Alderney, Denmark and the
Isle of Man in order to develop a common approach to the testing of online games with the aim
of reducing the requirement for the same game to be tested multiple times in order to be offered
in different markets whilst at the same time ensuring that standards of testing were sufficiently
robust. This resulted in the establishment of the multi-jurisdictional testing framework (MJTF)
which will develop in several phases to include many elements of testing that are common to
all online gambling regulators. Phase one covered the approval process for external testing
laboratories and the testing of random number generators and phase two which is currently in
progress is looking at the testing and approval of new games. We will continue with this work and
hope to welcome other jurisdictions to participate once the work of the pilot group is complete.
60
61
COUNTRY REPORT
GERMANY
JOINT OFFICE OF GAMBLING OF THE 16 FEDERAL STATES
Website
Email
www.innen.hessen.de/buerger-staat/gemeinsamegeschaeftsstelle-gluecksspiel-0
2008
Hessian Ministry of the Interior
None
gemeinsamegeschaeftsstelle@hmdis.hessen.de
The German Gambling Market
On 1 July 2012, the new State Treaty on Gambling in Germany (GlüStV) has come into force as
the First State Treaty to amend the State Treaty on Gambling in Germany (First State Gambling
Amendment Treaty).
The equally important aims of the State Treaty are as follows:
1. to prevent the development of addiction to games of chance and gambling and to
establish the preconditions for combating this addiction in an effective manner,
2. to steer the natural gaming urges of the population along well-ordered and supervised
paths and counteract the development and spread of illegal games of chance on black
markets by providing a restricted and suitable alternative to unauthorised games of
chance,
3. to guarantee protection for young people and gamblers,
4. to ensure that games of chance are conducted in accordance with regulations, that
gamblers are protected against fraudulent wheeling and dealing, and that the criminal
aspect which follows and accompanies games of chance is averted and,
5. to pre-empt risks to the integrity of sport competitions arising from the organization and
sale of sports bets.
To achieve these aims, differentiated measures for the individual forms of games of chance
shall be stipulated to take into account their specific potential for addiction, fraud, manipulation
and criminal activity.
The regulated gambling market in Germany includes the following seven divisions:
•
•
•
•
62
Casino games (table games) and gaming machines (slots) in Casinos,
Amusement with prize machines (AWP) in amusement arcades and bars/restaurants,
State lotteries and sports betting of the Deutscher Lotto-Toto-Block (DLTB),
State class lotteries,
• Television lotteries,
• Saving lotteries and
• Horserace betting.
In addition, the GlüStV envisages to award twenty licenses to organize and arrange betting of sport
events in course of a licensing procedure. Because the licensing procedure is not finished yet, this
division is still allocated to the non-regulated market in this report
The terms of the GlüStV are implemented to federal state law by the implementing laws of the 16 federal
states. Other relevant German gambling laws are the casino laws of the federal states, the Gambling
Ordinance (responsible for AWPs) and the Betting and Lotteries Act (responsible for track and off-track
horserace betting and the taxation of lotteries and betting).
In addition to the regulated market, there is also a non-regulated gambling market in Germany, which
includes the illegal gambling divisions. The existence of this market was also the reason for the
amendment of the State Treaty on Gambling. The non-regulated gambling market includes the following
four divisions:
•
•
•
•
Sports betting of private providers (online & retail),
Online casino games,
Online poker and
Online secondary lotteries.
The German Gambling Authority
Gambling belongs to police law and thus fall under the competence of the federal states. Each of the
federal states has its own Gaming Supervisory Authorities, which is responsible for the regulation
of gambling in the respective state. The authorities are usually located in the state ministries of the
interior.
Recent developments
Several court decisions prevent the competent authority to award the twenty licenses to organize and
arrange betting of sport events. Thus the licensing procedure is not finished yet.
Other vital facts
In 2014, the German gambling market generated GGR of € 11,381.8 million and grew by € 178.1
million or 1.6% compared to 2013. In the same period, the GGR of the regulated market totalled
€ 9,636.3 million, equating to 84.7% of the total market and exceeded the previous year by €
105.8 million or 1.1%, while the GGR of the non-regulated market added up to € 1,745.5 million,
equating to 15.3% of the total market, exceeding last year´s amount by € 72.3 million or 4.3%.
These numbers are taken from the Annual Report 2014 of the Gaming Supervisory Authorities
of the federal states in Germany. The report is available on the website of the Joint Office of
Gambling of the 16 federal states, see: https://innen.hessen.de/buerger-staat/gemeinsamegeschaeftsstelle-gluecksspiel/evaluierung-ggs.
63
COUNTRY REPORT
GIBRALTAR
THE GIBRALTAR GAMBLING COMMISSIONER
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/remote-gambling
7
2005
Ministry of Financial Services and Gaming
Police and law officers as necessary
David Walsh
00350 20064146
gcoffice@gibraltar.gov.gi
The Gibraltar Gambling Market
At present, the Government of Gibraltar has licenced 33 remote gambling operators, 2
bookmaker’s shops and 2 land-based casinos and continues to liaise with operators who wish
to become licensed in Gibraltar.
The Government of Gibraltar also licences and oversees the regulation of approximately 220
gaming machines in Gibraltar retail, catering and entertainment premises.
The Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
The Gambling Commissioner is responsible for regulatory supervision of the licensed gambling
sector in Gibraltar. The current Gambling Commissioner is Phill Brear.
64
Recent developments
Although the present legislative regime has served to establish Gibraltar’s reputation as one of the
world’s leading remote gambling jurisdictions, it is necessary to keep pace with changing commercial
and technological developments and as such, a review of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) and the
codes of practice (Codes) has been initiated by the Government of Gibraltar.
This review has been ongoing and its findings have now been presented to the Government. The
proposals put forward will be considered and adopted to the extent thought necessary and desirable
with a view to updating and strengthening Gibraltar’s statutory regime and ensuring Gibraltar’s continued
success as a world-leading hub for gambling. The review is being carried out in consultation with the
Gambling Commissioner. The Government of Gibraltar will carefully study the recommendations before it
moves into a consultation period with the industry over any possible enactments.
Other vital facts
The Government of Gibraltar continues to adopt a policy of selectivity in respect of its licensees,
ensuring that only those operators with a proven track-record, relevant experience at the highest
levels and with the necessary financial status and probity are awarded licences.
65
COUNTRY REPORT
GREECE
HELLENIC GAMING COMMISSION (HGC).
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.gamingcommission.gov.gr
149
2004
Ministry of Finance
a) Ministry of Finance, b) Anti-Money Laundering,
Counter-Terrorist Financing and Source of Funds
Investigation Authority, c) General Secretariat of Sports
(for Match Fixing Issues).
Mr. Ioannis Christofidis, Head of the Department of
Social Responsibility and Partnership
+30 2111075223
i.christofidis@gamingcommission.gov.gr
The Greek Gambling Market:
Games of chance are operated in Greece by:
1. The Greek Organization of Football Prognostics (OPAP S.A.), which operates most games
of chance.
2. Ten (10) casino enterprises, carrying out operations in various parts of the country.
3. The company “Hellenic Lotteries S.A.”, which operates the State Lotteries as from 1st
May 2014.
4. Hellas Horse Races S.A. (previous designation of the company: The Hellenic Horse Racing
Organization S.A. “ODIE S.A.”), which is responsible for mutual betting on horse racing.
5. The twenty-four (24) undertakings providing online gambling and betting services, which
are subject to the transitional regime of paragraph 12, Article 50 of Law 4002/2011 (GG
Series A, No. 180).
The Greek Gambling Authority (HGC):
Mission of the HGC:
The mission of the HGC as a key regulator of the gaming market (games of chance and
amusement games) is to ensure legality in gaming activities, to protect the interests of players
and the public at large, particularly of the minors and other vulnerable groups, and to monitor
the state revenue collection process.
66
Powers and duties of the HGC:
The HGC is responsible for regulating, supervising and inspecting compliance in the gaming market,
protecting the players and the public at large, particularly minors and vulnerable groups, and monitoring
the state revenue collection process.
There are two basic types of games: games of skill, which are played for amusement, without gain, and
games of chance.
The primary responsibilities of the HGC are to prepare and issue the statutory regulatory provisions,
issue the statutory licenses and certifications and inspect compliance regarding all aspects of the
gaming industry (gaming machines, games, gaming facilities, commercial communication, persons
involved).
The relevant inspections intend to ensure the legality of games; compliance with the rules on
transparent, honest and fair gaming; sound economic management; due payment of winnings to players;
due collection of State taxes and compliance with the terms of gambling licenses. Moreover, the HGC
is responsible for laying down and implementing proper frameworks and measures for the protection of
minors and other vulnerable groups and for the prevention of illegal gaming, fraud, money laundering
and gambling-related criminal offences.
Finally, the HGC has been appointed as the competent Authority to impose and enforce the applicable
administrative penalties and fines in the gaming sector. As regards gambling, the HGC has competence
in the games operated by OPAP S.A., HELLENIC LOTTERIES S.A., casino enterprises and Hellas Horse
Races S.A., regardless of the gambling method (land-based, online, etc.). The HGC is also responsible
for gambling on broadcast and telecommunications media.
Finally, the HGC licenses, certifies and inspects compliance in the field of electronic amusement games,
in accordance with the applicable provisions.
Recent developments: TOTAL GAMBLING TURNOVER IN 2014
Evolution of the Greek gambling market:
The gambling turnover in 2014 was 5,889,243,603 euros and was distributed as follows:
PROVIDER GAMBLING TURNOVER IN 2014 (Amounts in euros).
OPAP S.A.:3,759,712,676
CASINO ENTERPRISES:
1,599,943,054
HELLENIC LOTTERIES S.A.:
479,574,260
ODIE S.A.:50,013,613
TOTAL:5,889,243,603
Providers’ share in gambling turnover in 2014:
OPAP S.A.: 64%
CASINO ENTERPRISES: 27%
HELLENIC LOTTERIES S.A.: 8%
ODIE S.A.: 1%
67
COUNTRY REPORT
HUNGARY
NATIONAL TAX AND CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION, CENTRAL MANAGEMENT,
GAMBLING SUPERVISION DEPARTMENT
Website
Number of employees
www.nav.gov.hu/nav/szerencsejatek
109
1991
Ministry for National Economy
Hungarian Trade Licensing Office (metrology)
National Media and Info-communications Authority
Hungarian Authority for Consumer Protection
Contact
dr. Annamária Vadászné Moticska Deputy Head of
Department
Telephone
Email
+36 1 373 1605
ki.szef@nav.gov.hu, vadaszne.annamaria@nav.gov.hu
The Hungarian Gambling Market
According to Act XXXIV of 1991 on Gambling Operations the following games of chance can be
licensed by the National Tax and Customs Administration (hereinafter referred to as: NTCA):
drawings, casino games, (including slot machines), betting, card games, remote gambling (online
betting) and online casino.
Currently the Szerencsejáték Zrt. – as a state gaming operator – holds licenses to organize: 22
drawing games (e.g. Lotto, Keno, Eurojackpot, scratch tickets) and 4 betting games (totalizer
type: Toto, Goltoto, bookmaker type: TippMix and TippmixPro). Most of these games were
available in 4473 lottery shops, post offices and other sales locations. TippmixPro is available
for sports betting players exclusively online.
Horse race betting is organized by the Magyar Lóversenyfogadást Szervező Kft. as a state
gaming operator. Horse race betting was available at 212 locations, including betting shops,
lottery shops and tobacco shops. The Magyar Lóversenyfogadást Szervező Kft. obtained a
licence in 2015 for providing a totalizer-type horse race betting held within the framework of
international cooperation with Pari Mutuel Urbain, a Paris-based betting organizer.
There are 10 card rooms operating in Hungary which can offer only totalizer type of poker games
and on maximum 10 tables per card room. In the past years the number of licensed card rooms
in decreasing gradually. There are 8 land based casinos operating in Hungary of which 5 are
located in Budapest, 2 in the Eastern region and 1 in the Western region of the country. (The
Gambling Act permits the operation of 11 land based casinos altogether.)
68
In October 2012 the operation of slot machines in game rooms was banned (slot machines can be
operated only in casinos) and as a consequence in the following years the number of illegal slot
machines, or alike internet terminals providing slot games increased significantly across the country,
especially located in pubs. However in 2015 a decrease in the illegal slot machine market is shown due
to the widespread and regular on-site inspection of the NTCA and the high number and amount of fines
imposed by the same authority.
A high number of online gambling operators offer their products (often in Hungarian language) to
Hungarian residents without the licence of the NTCA. The NTCA orders the ISPs to block the access
to these websites. Since 2014 the NTCA has issued altogether 534 blocking orders. Advertising of
unlicensed gambling websites is also against the law, in such cases the consumer protection authority
imposes fines on the advertising service provider. As a result of the authorities’ actions several
foreign gambling operators ceased to offer gambling services to Hungarian residents, besides this the
advertising of unlicensed websites decreased in the past months.
The National Tax and Customs Administration
The Gambling Supervision Department within the Central Management of the NTCA is responsible
for the licensing and inspection of gambling activities and the regulatory supervision of gambling
operations. The NTCA shall monitor gambling activities and their (operational and personnel) compliance
with legal provisions, the licence and the game plan approved by the NTCA. The NTCA carries out onsite and document-based inspections of gaming operations and operators, compliance with personnel
requirements is supervised annually. If breach of the applicable rules is proved the NTCA imposes
administrative sanctions against the operator including fine, licence suspension or withdrawal.
If illegal gambling activity is detected the NTCA imposes fine against the operator or its executive officer
and additionally files criminal actions at the police and initiates measures to be taken by the consumer
protection authority in case illegal gambling activity is advertised in Hungary.
The NTCA orders the ISPs to block the access to illegal gambling websites for 365 days (earlier blocking
was ordered for 90 days), which can be repeated. The execution of the blocking order is coordinated by
the National Media and Info-communications Authority.
Main data for year 2015
Number of inspections carried out: 13 771
Number of resolutions issued: 3 230
Number of website blocking orders issued: 331
Sum of administrative fines imposed: 2 656 097 Euros
69
HUNGARY
Recent developments
In October and November 2015 new provisions came into force regarding responsible gaming.
Persons having made a significant self-restriction statement and persons placed by court
order under guardianship invoking fully limited legal competency shall not be permitted to
participate in gambling in casinos, card rooms, remote gambling and online casinos, including
those persons whose legal competency has been partially limited relating to gambling. The
NTCA keeps a register on the above mentioned persons (“player protection register”). The
above mentioned gambling operators must prevent the gambling by these vulnerable persons
by acquiring electronic data from the player protection register. Self-restriction statement can
be made at the customer service offices of the NTCA. The NTCA operates a call centre (that is
available free of charge twenty-four hours a day) via which the players can submit complaints
and suggestions regarding responsible gaming.
Upon the organizer’s request the NTCA may adopt a resolution to qualify the organizer
as recommended responsible gaming organizer if the undertaking fulfills the stipulated
requirements within 1 year prior to submitting the application. Detailed requirements of
responsible gaming are laid down in Government Decree 329/2015 (XI. 10) on Detailed
Provisions Relating to Gambling Operations Held Under the Principle of Responsible Gaming.
In October 2015 there were a few significant changes in the provisions regulating online
gambling. Based on the amendments remote gambling can be offered by the above mentioned
two state owned operators (online sports betting by the Szerencsejáték Zrt. while online horse
race betting by the Lóversenyfogadást Szervező Kft.). Online casino can be operated by those
licensees who hold a licence to operate land based casinos in Hungary. Executive provisions
regulating the detailed requirements and technical standards of online casino and remote
gambling operation came into force at the beginning of 2016. At present however no license
has been issued for remote gambling or online casino.
Starting in 2015, MONEYVAL began to conduct the fifth round of mutual evaluation of Hungary,
in order to assess compliance with the relevant AML/CFT standards. The MONEYVAL’s Report
on the assessment is due to be public in September 2016.
70
Other vital facts
Gross gaming revenue in 2015 (in Euro)
Drawing games: 368 990 068
Betting: 102 663 906
Casinos: 85 969 629
Card rooms: 3 676 616
71
COUNTRY REPORT
ISLE OF MAN
THE GAMBLING SUPERVISION COMMISSION
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.gov.im/categories/business-and-industries/
gambling-and-e-gaming
12
1962
Independent board. *Treasury supplies political support
in Parliamentary proceedings
None
Steve Brennan
+44 01624 694339
Steve.Brennan@gov.im
The Isle of Man gambling market
Domestic Market
The Isle of Man has a small but mature terrestrial sector comprising:
•
•
•
•
between 1 and 2 land based casinos (1 at present);
gaming machines in bars & clubs (approximately 200 machines);
lotteries for charities and clubs; and
betting shops (9 outlets)
Online Market
The Isle of Man currently licenses operators of online products.
Operators are a mixture of global brands (such as Pokerstars, FullTilt, PaddyPower), Asian Sportsbooks
(SBOBet, 188Bet) and other sites.
The Isle of Man licence does not discriminate between product or size of business; start-up business is
often approved for licensing.
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
The Gambling Supervisions Commission (GSC) is a Statutory Board of Tynwald – this means that it is
independent of political leadership and is instead controlled by five Commissioners drawn from public life,
including a lawyer, a retired deputy chief constable, an IT entrepreneur and two members with banking
experience.
It is allocated a fixed budget by the Treasury. The Memorandum of Understanding between the GSC and
Treasury allows the GSC to retain all licence fees and remit to Treasury any unused money.
The GSC does not collect gambling taxes.
72
Its mandate is to:
• Protect the young and vulnerable;
• Exclude crime from the industry; and
• Ensure fairness in gambling.
Recent developments
Common testing standards
The Isle of Man continues to participate in the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)
working group which is working to establish common standards for testing games and platforms. Progress
is steady and encouraging.
Anti money laundering
Following from the National Risk Assessment, the GSC has re-engineered its AML/CFT processes and has
used them to conduct a bench-marking exercise on all online operators. The results from this exercise will
be used to create a risk-based approach to AML/CFT supervision.
Preparation for a visit by MONEYVAL
All jurisdictions must host inspections by FATF-style regional bodies. The Isle of Man’s regional body is
called MONEYVAL.
The Isle of Man receives its mutual evaluation visit in April 2016. This will be conducted by a team of
evaluators drawn from other jurisdictions. The work that has been required to prepare for this visit is
extensive and exacting.
Betting Integrity initiative
The Isle of Man has already signed Memorandums of Understanding, with Fédération Internationale de
Football Association (FIFA) which oversees football integrity, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
which oversees the governance and integrity of sports included in the Olympic Games and indirectly any
sports which wish to be included in the future Olympics, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) which oversees
tennis integrity, and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA),.
The Isle of Man is also an invited member of the IOC International Forum for Sports Integrity (IFSI) Expert
Group. This group was established to review progress to date in relation to combatting sports integrity
issues and to prepare a roadmap for future action aimed at strengthening and coordinating all activities to
protect clean athletes from match-fixing, manipulation of competitions and related corruption.
The GSC has identified legislative changes it wishes to progress during the 2016/17 legislative
programme, which will ensure that information obtained from its license holders can be shared with a
wider group of selected parties in order to assist in the fight to maintain the integrity of sports.
Other vital facts
In 2015, the GSC recruited a full-time AML/CFT specialist – Helen Ault – who joined the GSC from the
Financial Supervision Commission.
The GSC is seeking to become a member of the financial intelligence sharing network FIN-NET and hopes
to be able to make an application in 2016.
73
COUNTRY REPORT
JERSEY
THE JERSEY GAMBLING COMMISSION
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.jgc.je
5
2010
Economic Development
None
Dr. Jason Lane, 2nd Flr Salisbury House, 1-9 Union St,
St Helier, JERSEY, JE2 3RF, Channel Islands
+44 1534 828540
info@jgc.je
The Jersey Gambling Market
The Jersey gambling market is primarily driven by sports betting. There are 7 firms across 27
shops serving a population of 97,000. Each bookmaker is allowed to apply for up to 4 fixed
odds betting terminals per shop. There is an independent race track that offers on-course
racing and betting during the summer months. Pubs and clubs are allowed two gambling
machines (max payout of £100) per establishment.
There is an emerging online sector, primarily lottery driven, but with an increasing number of
enquiries from the more established sports betting and casino companies.
The States of Jersey (the Island’s Government) operates a lottery in conjunction with the other
Channel Islands. Proceeds from this lottery go to good causes. There is a healthy charitable
lottery sector for the benefit of non-profit organisations and they are also able to offer select
games (such as Crown and Anchor) by special licence.
74
The Jersey Gambling Commission
The JGC is an independent non-departmental public body, established in 2010. The Board of the
Commission comprises 5 members who are appointed by the States, the Island’s Parliament on advice
from the Minister for Economic Development. Board members can serve up to 2 terms of 5 years.
The aims and objectives of the Commission are set out in the Gambling Commission (Jersey) Law 2010
and comprise three guiding principles:
To protect the vulnerable
To ensure that gambling is fair
To keep gambling crime free.
The Commission is responsible for licensing all commercial gambling, some charitable gambling
(regulation subject to threshold), but not private gambling or the Channel Islands Lottery, which is a
responsibility of government. The Commission undertakes compliance and enforcement duties in
respect of the regulated sectors and provides advice to government and other agencies as required.
Recent developments
The Commission continues to receive significant interest in its remote gambling licensing regime, the
first remote operator’s licence was granted in 2014, and several other applications are close to being
finalised. The start of 2016 also saw the grant of a third hosting service providers permit. In the latter
part of 2015 3 new Commissioners were appointed to the Commission’s Board – Crown Advocate Cyril
Whelan (Deputy Chairman), Ms Debbie Sebire and Advocate Matthew Swan. Commissioner Jeremy
Arnold left the Board early in 2016 and September 2016 will see the departure as Chairman of Graham
White OBE and of Commissioner Peter Cruickshank, as both have now served the maximum 10 years in
office.
75
COUNTRY REPORT
LATVIA
LOTTERIES AND GAMBLING SUPERVISORY INSPECTION
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.iaui.gov.lv
19
1998
Ministry of Finance
State Revenue Service (administration of taxes), State
Police (fraud), Consumer Rights Protection Centre
(advertisement)
Signe Birne, Director, Brivibas street 33, 4-rd floor, Riga,
LV1010, LATVIA
+371-67 504 954
signe.birne@iaui.gov.lv
The Latvian Gaming Market
The Gaming market in Latvia (on 2015) consists of:
Office e-mail: pasts@iaui.gov.lv
Bingo halls
0.1%
Betting
0.8%
Online
5.06%
1) G
ambling activities operated by 14 private operators
(number of units on 31.12.2015)
• Gaming halls (320) with slot machines (8701)
• Casinos (5) with live game tables (70) and slot machines
• Betting points (42)
• Bingo halls (2)
All kinds of gambling could be operated also via internet.
There are 6 online gambling operators.
2) National lotteries operated by State owned Lottery
Company (state monopoly).
Lotteries
10.9%
Gaming Tables
76.8%
Gaming Machines
76.8%
Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection
Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection is an authority of direct administration under
supervision of the Ministry of Finance. Inspection was established on 1998. Director is appointed by
a decision of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Inspection is managed by the Director of Inspection, under
the subordination there are the Assistant of Director, Deputy Director, Control Department and Law
Department.
Purpose of the Inspection activities shall be implementation of the government functions within supervision
of arrangement of draws, gambling and lotteries of goods and services, in order to ensure compliance with
and performance of the law requirements governing the said area. Functions of the Inspection:
76
•
•
•
•
to license the arrangement of games;
to take an account of and supervise slot machines and casino tables;
to monitor and to control the arrangement of games;
to perform other functions determined by the statutory law governing the supervision of the
games of chance.
Recent developments
There have been adopted (on 30.11.2015) amendments in Gambling and Lotteries Law (2006)
concerning regulation of online gaming, licensing, taxation, widening of responsibilities of Inspection etc.
It was set up that Operating license should be paid once 427 000 euro for all kinds of gambling (land
based and on-line); Operating license should be paid once 200 000 euro if all kinds of gambling only online. Both kinds of operating license must be re-registered for 37 000 every year.
There are also changes in Gaming Tax Law, with increasing of gaming taxes and duties for approx 10%.
Since 2016 Gaming supervisory body will have rights to penalty also unlicensed (illegal) gaming
operators. Before 2016 it was responsibility of State police.
Other vital facts
Activity of online gambling operators is growing up. There have been issued 6 online gambling
licenses, one more application is on discussions. All of them are Latvian operators.
In accordance to requirements of “non-gambling Laws” – Electronic Communications Law, Credit
Institution Law and Payment Services and Electronic Money Law (starting with August 1, 2014):
1) T he Inspection is entitled to take a decision on restriction access to website of unlicensed
gambling operator. An Internet service provider shall restrict access in Latvia to unlicensed
interactive gambling operator’s web page. The restriction shall be done based on the list
issued by The Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection.
2) It is forbidden to start or continue business relations with unlicensed in Latvia interactive
gambling operator (or intermediaries) and, it is forbidden to make credit transfers (payments)
to unlicensed gambling operator account, which is mentioned on the list issued by the
Inspection.
Statistics on blocking (August 1, 2014 – December 31, 2015)
Inspection has issued 717 orders on restriction access to illegal gaming website.
There have been blocked 1652 IP addresses and 911 domain names.
There were issued orders concerns 221 online gambling operators.
77
COUNTRY REPORT
LITHUANIA
THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.lpt.lt
29
2001 July
Ministry of Finance
None
Skirmante Paukstiene, Chief Specialist, Division of Legislation, Staff and General Affairs
+370 5 233 6246
skirmante.paukstiene@lpt.lt
The Lithuanian Gambling and Lottery Market
Gambling was organized by 13 private gaming operating companies in:
• Gaming establishments (casinos) (18) (with 132 gaming tables and 661 gaming
machines category A);
• Gaming machine halls (arcades) (179) (3585 gaming machines category B)
• Betting stations (168)
GGR in gambling – 85.8 mln. € and it was 8 % higher than in 2014 (79 mln. €).
National lotteries have been organized by 3 private companies.
GGR in lotteries was 34.2 mln. € (in 2014 – 26.6 €).
The average spending per capita over 18 in gaming was 36 € in 2015 (in 2014 - 33 €), in
lotteries - 14 € (in 2014 – 11 €).
In 2015, the gaming and lottery sectors employed 2 798 people.
Gaming and lottery business generated 28.8 mln. € budget income (in 2014 – 27 mln. €): 14.8
mln. € came from lottery and gaming taxes and 14 mln. € from other compulsory taxes.
78
The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority
The Gaming Control Authority is the State institution authorized to supervise and control, in accordance
with the procedure established by legal acts, the operation of gaming and lotteries to ensure the
protection of the interests and rights of players. The institution is participating in implementation of the
state policy in the gambling and lottery field in Lithuania.
Main functions of the Gaming Control Authority:
• issue and cancel gaming and national lottery licences;
• issue permits to open gaming machine halls, bingo halls, betting and totalisator stations and
gaming establishments (casinos), supplement, change and cancel such permits;
• control compliance of gaming and lottery operators with the requirements of the laws and other
legal acts regulating the operation of gaming and lotteries;
• draft legal acts regulating the operation of gaming;
• administer the Register of Gaming Devices of Lithuania.
Recent developments
The amendments to Gaming Law of the Republic of Lithuania regulating online gaming entered into
force on the 1st January 2016. Starting with this date gaming operators need to be licensed by the
Gaming Control Authority to offer online gambling in the Republic of Lithuania. In accordance with new
amendments of the Gaming Law, implementation of measures targeting illegal gambling operators has
been launched on 1 January 2016 - illegal gambling websites of operators not licensed for such activity
in the Republic of Lithuania are blocked on basis of the binding orders issued by the Gaming Control
Authority. The list of illegal gambling operators is published on the website of the Gaming Control
Authority. The list of gaming operating companies which have a permit to organize remote gambling is
published on the website as well.
Gamiong
machines
category B
28%
Betting
50%
Gamiong machines
category A
7%
Gambling
Tables
15%
79
LITHUANIA
THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
Other vital facts
Match-fixing prevention:
Gaming Control Authority draws particular attention to the match fixing prevention:
• Trainings for police officers provided by Gaming Control Authority specialists;
• Round-table discussion organised by the Gaming Control Authority for industry players and
interested parties in Parliament in March 2016;
• International cooperation - Memoranda of understanding with TIU, Betfair, Federbet, 1xBet,
cooperation with ESSA;
• Cooperation agreements with national institutions and organisations - Ministry of Interior,
Police Department under the ministry of Interior, The Department of Physical Education and
Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, Office of the Prosecutor General, Lithuanian Basketball
Federation, Lithuanian Football Federation, Lithuanian Sports Poker Federation.
Responsible gambling:
Since 2004 the self-restriction possibility is offered by the Gaming Control Authority for gamblers.
In 2009, the agreement about the self-restriction from gaming was signed between the Gaming
Control Authority and the gaming operators. The self-restriction as a problem gambling prevention
measure is functioning under voluntary basis.
Since 2004, 4040 applications for self-restriction have been received until the 31st of December
2015.
In 2015, the Gaming Control Authority initiated:
• The help group for relatives of problem gamblers. The meetings are held once a month by
specialists of the Gaming Control Authority.
• Creation of audio and video spots encouraging responsible gambling which are broadcasted
by the national and regional radio and TV translators.
• Publishing of information leaflets on problem gambling themes.
80
81
COUNTRY REPORT
MALTA
THE MALTA GAMING AUTHORITY (MGA)
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.mga.org.mt
150
2001
MEIB (Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small
Business)
The MGA is the regulator for gaming in Malta. Other
entities are also involved, e.g. the Responsible Gaming
Foundation with the objective to promote awareness on
problem gambling issues and other related matters.
Head EU/International Affairs
00356 25469000
corinne.m.gatt@mga.org.mt
The Maltese Gambling Market
Malta’s gambling market includes a range of gaming activities: amusement machines, casino
gaming (online, land-based and cruise casinos), commercial bingo games (online and landbased), commercial communication games, gaming devices, remote gaming and betting
operations on sports and other events (including business-to-business licences for operators
which host and manage other business-to-consumer operators), the National Lottery Games as
well as other lotteries and non-profit games.
In order to carry out any of the above-mentioned gaming activities, a person must first apply for
a licence with the MGA and satisfy a number of pre-established requirements. On award of the
licence, a number of compliance mechanisms need to continue to be respected in accordance
with the law.
Licensed operators providing gambling or betting services must pay corporate tax to the Inland
Revenue Department and gaming tax to the MGA on behalf of the Government of Malta. Fixed
licensing and compliance fees and other administrative costs are also paid to the MGA.
The Malta Gaming Authority
The Malta Gaming Authority is the regulator of all gaming activities described above, through the
Lotteries and other Games Act (Cap. 438 of the Laws of Malta) and all subsidiary legislation
thereunder. The Authority is also responsible for advising the responsible Minister on new
developments, needs and risks in the industry and on the formulation of new regulations as
required.
82
In January 2015, the Maltese gaming regulator was rebranded as the Malta Gaming Authority. This
included a complete refresh of its corporate branding to better reflect the industry’s challenges. MGA’s
new website was also launched in the same period as well as MGA’s improved social media presence.
The year of change culminated in the move of premises which house the Malta Gaming Authority. The
new offices are larger, more modern and equipped with the latest technology in order to cater for the
successful gaming infrastructure which has developed in Malta.
The MGA works at a number of other levels to improve its systems and structures in order to ensure
optimal service to the gaming industry. Recently in March 2016, the MGA and Microsoft Malta signed an
agreement which will see the MGA implementing the latest Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
systems to automate its gaming and licensee management processes via a dedicated and secure web
portal. The CRM system will be rolled out in a number of phases, which should all be completed by the
end of 2016.
Recent developments
• Gaming Malta was launched in March 2015. Gaming Malta is a foundation which is tasked with
promoting Malta as a gaming jurisdiction, and hence taking over the promotional role from the MGA.
• The MGA published the Cruise Casino Regulations, wherein cruise liners may operate onboard
casinos while berthing in Malta and its territorial waters, upon obtaining prior approval from the
MGA.
• Owing to the increasing threat posed by the manipulation of sports competitions to the integrity of
sports, the MGA recently stepped up its efforts to improve its control systems in this regard. In April
2015 it joined the ‘Anti-Corruption & Transparency Experts’ Task Force which inter alia aims to tackle
the issue of match-fixing by increasing educational awareness, rehashing national legislation to take
into account the recent developments on sports corruption and setting up a national platform. The
MGA has also recently concluded a consultation with licensees of remote betting in order to better
understand the mechanisms and systems which these licensees have undertaken to fight matchfixing. More initiatives of this kind are expected to carry on throughout 2016.
• The Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive was published in June 2015. The MGA is following the
implementation of the Directive from the gaming perspective while working in conjunction with the
Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit to ensure correct and appropriate implementation, especially in
regards to the remote gaming industry, as well as other sectors of gaming (excluding casinos) which
are newly covered by anti-money laundering obligations within this Directive.
• In September 2015 the MGA published its “Fit and Proper” Guidelines. These Guidelines lay out the
minimum criteria applicable to all relevant persons falling under all the activities regulated by the
MGA in accordance with applicable law.
• Within the same month, the MGA kick-started a working group on outsourcing in order to try to
establish parameters on a prospective policy on the subject in collaboration with the industry.
• In October 2015, the MGA launched a public consultation on the adoption of an enhanced reporting
83
MALTA
THE MALTA GAMING AUTHORITY (MGA)
tool for Land Based Gaming Devices and the Remote Gaming Sector through the implementation
of an enhanced reporting platform (EARP). The main objective of the proposal regarding EARP
systems is to improve reporting efficiency and minimise regulatory burdens and costs on the
industry, while ensuring the availability of the required data by the Authority. In March 2016 the
MGA published a summary of the consultation feedback highlighting key points raised through the
consultation process. Over the next few months work will be carried out to develop the best method
of implementation for this new system.
• In November 2015 the MGA signed the multilateral cooperation arrangement with other EU/EEA
gaming regulators under the auspices of the European Commission within the Expert Group on
Gambling Services.
• In December 2015, the MGA issued a position paper on digital games of skill with prize offered
through means of distance communication, following the earlier consultation process with the same
name. This paper seeks to clarify the Authority’s approach with respect to the increasing number
of different games on the market which include substantial elements of skill besides chance, and
thus do not fall squarely within the traditional classification of games known as ‘gambling’. In this
paper, the Authority differentiates between skill games (with prize) with no, or a negligible element of
chance and games the outcome of which is mainly accidental but also influenced significantly by the
skill of the player.
• Also in December 2015, the MGA issued guidelines on Technical Infrastructure for hosting gaming
and control systems used by remote gaming licensees. These were issued following a public
consultation with respect to the use of cloud solutions by the remote gaming industry and an
assessment of the feedback received. The purpose of these Guidelines is to update the MGA’s
approach when implementing its regulatory requirements and procedures with respect to Technical
Infrastructure. They are intended to guide operators, licensees, service providers and stakeholders
on the MGA’s compliance objectives when evaluating an applicant’s or licensee’s technical set-up.
• In January 2016 the MGA published a consultation paper on a Code of Commercial
Communications, aimed at eventually replacing the MGA Code of Advertising, Promotions and
Inducements. This draft Code seeks to regulate marketing and advertising of a licensed gaming
service.
84
Other vital facts
The complete overhaul of Malta’s gaming regulatory framework is still positioned high on the
MGA’s agenda and should start seeing the light of day later on this year. As has been stated
before, the objective of the regulatory overhaul is to revamp and consolidate the various laws
covering gaming under one Act while keeping abreast with consumer demands, technological
and industry developments. The various initiatives which are being taken (referred to in previous
section) will ultimately feed into this general overhaul.
85
COUNTRY REPORT
MONTENEGRO
THE GAMES OF CHANCE ADMINISTRATION
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.upravazaugrenasrecu.me
8
2008
Ministry of Finance
The Administration for Inspection Affairs
Ilija Vukčević PhD, Director
+382-20-265-438
upravazaigrenasrecu@t-com.me
The Montenegrin Gambling Market
The regulated Montenegrin Gambling market comprise of:
•
•
•
•
•
•
6 casinos (4 business entities);
1 business entity has been organizing lottery games;
8 business entities have been organizing closed type tombola;
19 business entities have been organizing sports betting (549 objects);
4 business entities have been organizing sports betting on terminals (170 terminals);
30 business entities have been organizing special games of chance on slot-machines
(104 objects).
The Montenegrin Gambling Authority
Montenegrin Gambling Authority is under the Ministry of Finance. It has been established
at August 2008. Up to 2012 The Games of Chance Administration consisted of 2 sectors
(Sector for Games of Chance and Sector for Inspection), but due to administrative reforms in
Montenegro, in June of 2012 Sector for inspection separated from Administration for Games of
Chance and joined a new Government authority - Administration for Inspection Affairs
86
Recent developments
Total of revenues from concessions for organizing games of chance in 2015 was EUR 9. 297.607,77,
which is 12,35% more than in 2014.
Other vital facts
At the end of 2014 Ministry of Finance completed the public procurement procedure for
establishment of the online surveillance system over organizers of games of chance but the
rulebook for implementation of the system has not been passed yet, so the establishment of the
online supervision over games of chance organizers is postponed and is now planned for the end
of 2016 or beginning of 2017.
87
COUNTRY REPORT
THE NETHERLANDS
THE NETHERLANDS GAMING AUTHORITY
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.kansspelautoriteit.nl 72
2012
Ministry of Security and Justice, Other authorities involved
Ministry of Finance
Robert Biegel
31-6-48100205
rbiegel@kansspelautoriteit.nl The Netherlands Gambling Market
The Netherlands has a regulated offline gambling market, that consists of: a casino monopoly
with 14 casinos (operated by Holland Casino), a state lottery, 3 larger national good causes
lotteries, a monopoly on lotto and sports betting, a monopoly on horse racing and private
operators of 42.000 slot machines in arcades, bars and restaurants. Online gambling is
forbidden.
The total turnover of the legal gambling sector is more than €2 billion. Almost €500 million is
transferred to charities; almost the same amount goes to the Treasury.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority
The Netherlands Gaming Authority (NGA) was established on 1 April 2012. The NGA is an
independent governance body and is the supervisor and regulator of games of chance in the
European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The NGA is funded by the industry through
gaming levies.
The Authority is governed by the Board of Directors (Mr Jan SUYVER, Chairman, Mr Henk
KESLER, member, Mr Joop POT, member) and is managed by the Chief Executive (Mrs Maria
APPELMAN).
The NGA has a threefold task: (1) to regulate legal supply, (2) to prevent gambling addiction and
illegality and crime (related to gambling), and (3) to protect and inform consumers.
The Minister of Security and Justice (or the State Secretary for Justice) bears the political
responsibility for gambling policy in the Netherlands.
88
Recent developments
The Netherlands is preparing for a complete overhaul of gambling legislation.
In July 2014, a Remote Gambling Bill has been sent to Parliament. The legislative process is still going
on; the Bill hasn’t come into force yet.
On 31 December 2016, the multi-year national good causes lotteries, lotto and sports betting, scratch
cards en horse racing licences will expire. Recently, the NGA has started preparing for transparent
licensing.
A bill is in preparation for the privatization of the Dutch casino monopoly (operated by Holland Casino).
The privatization will be accompanied by the admission of new casino operators to the Dutch market.
Slot machines rules will be modernized and simplified.
Other vital facts
The NGA published its annual report 2015 on 1 April 2016. This report (in Dutch and English)
can be found on the NGA’s website.
89
COUNTRY REPORT
NORWAY
THE NORWEGIAN GAMBLING AUTHORITY
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.lottstift.no
40
2001
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (horse racing)
Director General Atle Hamar, PO Box 800, NO-6805,
Førde, Norway
+ 47 57 82 80 00
aha@lottstift.no
The Norwegian Gambling Market
The Norwegian gambling market is structured on an exclusive rights system for the state
controlled companies:
Norsk Tipping offering Lotto, Keno, Eurojackpot, Viking Lotto, scratchcards, other number games,
sports betting, gaming terminals IVTs and interactive online gaming.
Norsk Rikstoto offering gaming in connection with equestrian activities.
In addition the Norway has a private lottery sector run for the benefit of organizations promoting
a humanitarian or social-benificial objective (either by the organizations themselves or private
operators) consisting of bingo, gaming on ferries, lotteriers, scratch tickets, poker and other
minor forms of regional and local lotteries.
At the moment, Norsk Tipping has 70% of the regulated market, whilst Norsk Rikstoto has 12%
and private lotteries 18%.
The Gaming Authority is co-organised with the Norwegian Foundation Authority in the town of
Førde, on the west coast of Norway. The Authority`s main tasks are licensing and supervision
of the private lottery market, control of all the entire regulated market, as well as taking action
against illegal gaming in Norway.
The Authority also has the responsibility to undertake government policy with regard to the
prevention of gambling addiction, as laid down in the Governmental Action Plan to combat
problem gambling. The plan contains a wide range of measures and projects undertaken by the
Authority, in co-operation with other public bodies. In addition the Authority produces annual
90
statistics from the Norwegian market, including turnover, gross gambling revenue and revenues to
beneficiaries.
Recent developments
The Ministry of Culture has in 2015 been conducting an assessment on a possible licensing system
for the Norwegian market. Reports on the economical and social- and criminal policy aspects of a
licensing system were drawn up by the private contractor Rambøll and the Norwegian Gaming Authority
respectively. A public consultation was undertaken in Autumn and the Government had decided to draw
up a parliamentary report regarding the Norwegian gaming market in the future. This will be presented
to Parliament in December 2016.
In November the Ministry of Culture adopted a new Governmental Action Plan to combat problem
gambling for the period 2016-2018. The plan replaces the previous action for the period 2013 –
2015, and focuses on the same three major goals: prevention, knowledge and treatment. The plan
encompasses both gambling and computer gaming. In addition the plan has a stronger focus on
research into problem gambling and how this should be arranged in the future.
91
COUNTRY REPORT
POLAND
GAMBLING REGULATORY AUTHORITY:
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.mf.gov.pl approx. 25
Gaming Law of November 19th 2009
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Treasury, Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage,
Ministry of Sport and Tourism
Sectorial, Local and on Hazard Games Tax Department,
Ministry of Finance, 12 Świętokrzyska St, 00-916
Warsaw
(+48 22) 694-58-04
sekretariat.pl@mofnet.gov.pl
The Polish Gambling Market
Polish Gambling Law sets the terms and conditions of conducting the activity within the field of
games of chance, betting and slot machines.
Games of chance shall be games where the prize is either cash or a thing. The outcome of the
game depends on chance and conditions of the games are stipulated by the game rules. Games
of chance shall be:
•
number games;
•
cash lotteries;
•telebingo;
•
cylindrical games;
•
card games: black jack, poker and baccarat;
•
dice games;
•
cash bingo;
•
raffle bingo;
•
raffle lotteries;
•
promotion lotteries;
•
audiotele lotteries;
Slot
Machines
10%
Betting
10%
Casinos
20%
Number of Games
46%
The regulated Polish Gambling Market comprise of (in 2014):
•
•
92
Audiotele Lotteries
1%
Cash Lotteries
8%
50 casinos;
56 objects have been offering special games of chance on slot machines;
•
•
•
•
•
•
28 business entities have been organizing sports betting (2 503 objects);
5 business entities have been organizing sports betting online;
27 poker tournaments were organised;
336 promotion lotteries were organised;
96 audiotele lotteries were organised;
1 raffle lottery was organised;
Budget income in 2014 (approx. 289 mln. €)
The Polish Gambling Authority
In Poland, the gambling regulatory authority is the Ministry of Finance (Sectoral, Local and Gambling Tax
Department). Its competencies include gambling market supervision and the policy of gaming taxes.
The Finance Minister is directly responsible for the granting of licences to land based casinos, and for
granting permits to betting (online as well as land based), cash bingo halls and poker tournaments.
The Minister of Finance supervises the Customs Service.
The Custom Chambers’ Directors grant the permits for raffle lotteries, audiotele lotteries, raffle bingo
and promotion lotteries.
The tasks of the Customs Service include conducting controls of compliance with the rules governing
the organization and conducting of gambling activities, of the compatibility of these activities with the
granted concession or permit and approved regulations; as well as the dimension and collection of
gaming tax and additional payments levied on the games within the state monopoly.
The Polish Financial Intelligence Unit is also located within the Ministry of Finance of Poland. However,
the exchange of information within its jurisdiction follows the rules specified in the Act on counteracting
money laundering and terrorist financing.
Recent developments
Amendment of Gaming Law by addition of art.7a, which allows joint stock companies or limited liability
companies or companies operating on the principles specific to these companies, with their registered
office within the territory of another Member State of the European Union or Member States of the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area,
pursuing business in the scope referred to in Article 6 s. 1 through 3 or in Article 7 d s. 2, to pursue
that business within the territory of the Republic of Poland on the terms and conditions specified in the
approved regulations, license or permit granted, and also under the provisions of the Law, provided that
they appoint a representative or as a branch.
Entry into force: 03/09/2015
93
COUNTRY REPORT
PORTUGAL
THE “GAMBLING REGULATORY AND INSPECTION AUTHORITY” (SRIJ)
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.srij.turismodeportugal.pt
86
1927
Ministry of Economics
Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI), and Regional
Government, when referring to the autonomous regions
of the Azores and Madeira, Santa Casa da Misericórdia
de Lisboa,
Paulo Lopes
00351-211140200
Paulo.lopes@turismodeportugal.pt
The “Portuguese” Gambling Market
The gambling market in Portugal is divided into two main sectors:
• Land-based games of chance (poker, bingo, casino games and slot machines); and
• Online gambling (games of chance, fixed-odds sports betting and mutual and fixed-odds
horserace betting).
National lotteries (including scratch cards, lotto games and joker), mutual sports betting
and land-based fixed-odd sports betting, are offered by the charity institution Santa Casa da
Misericórdia de Lisboa.
The operation and playing of games of chance is only permitted in casinos and bingos
authorised by the Government.
Land-based casinos (only) are allowed through specific concessions granted by the state, as
well as bingo halls, which can be operated within a casino or outside.
Slot machines are authorised only within casino venues.
Currently, there are 11 casinos in Portugal, 15 bingo halls outside the casinos and 1 bingo hall
operating within a casino.
While land-based games of chance in casinos and bingo halls is granted by the Portuguese
State through a public tender, according to the legal framework for gambling and case law,
lotteries and online gambling as part of the lottery market, remain under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the state monopoly and can only be offered by the charity institution Santa Casa
da Misericórdia, which holds the state monopoly on lotteries in Portugal.
94
This charitable organisation was also granted a monopoly for the sale of lottery and mutual sports
betting and land-based fixed-odd sports betting.
Other forms of gambling
• Amusement game machines: are operated by private operators but licenses are issued by the
Mayor of the respective municipality, together with the Gambling Regulatory and Inspection
Authority (SRIJ) that is responsible for classifying the game themes.
• Non-money lotteries with non-money prizes (like raffles tombola’s, lucky draws or fundraising
initiatives), can only be exploited by non-profit associations and require an authorization from the
competent administrative entities, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI).
The “Portuguese” Gambling Authority
The Gambling Regulatory and Inspection Authority (SRIJ) is a public authority, established in 1927, that
works under the Portuguese Tourism Authority reporting to the Ministry of Economics.
SRIJ Is a single regulatory body that is responsible for the governance of all land-based gaming activities
in Casinos and Bingo halls, overseeing and inspecting, through all the gambling activities in compliance
with legal requirements, defining regulations, controlling and inspecting the practice of games of chance
in casinos, bingo halls, and other venues, inspecting mutual betting schemes, approving amusement
gambling systems and devices, cooperating with the courts and police authorities and providing
technical support to these entities.
The main aims are:
• Protect the young and vulnerable
• Prevent abuse and criminal activity
• Ensure fairness in gambling.
Recent developments
Portugal’s upcoming regulated online gambling market is set to become operative during 2016.
95
COUNTRY REPORT
SWEDEN
SWEDISH GAMBLING AUTHORITY
Website
Number of employees
Contact
Telephone
Email
www.lotteriinspektionen.se
44
1995
Ministry of Finance
Public Health Agency of Sweden (problem gambling)
Håkan Hallstedt, Director General, P.O. Box 199, 645 23
STRÄNGNÄS, Sweden
+46 152 650 151
hakan.hallstedt@lotteriinspektionen.se
The Swedish Gambling Market
The arranging of lotteries is mainly a privilege for non-profit associations, horse racing
associations and the national lottery. The government has granted AB Svenska Spel (the
national lottery, wholly-owned by the state) and ATG (a state-controlled company owned by the
horse racing associations) exclusive permits to arrange certain lotteries and gambling. Svenska
Spel has the sole right to arrange sportsbetting (with a few exceptions for local events) and ATG
has the sole right to arrange horse racing betting.
The regulated Swedish Gambling market comprise of:
a. two state controlled sectors (casinos, lotteries, sports betting, online poker and horse
betting)
b. lotteries run by non-profit associations
c. private mini-casinos, and
d. amusement games
The Swedish Gambling Authority is an independent, non-departmental public authority,
established in 1995. The Board of the Authority consists of seven (7) members, including its
Director General. The Members are elected by the Government for a period of one (1) year. The
Director-General is normally appointed for a six (6) year term.
The Authorities main aim is to ensure that the Swedish gaming and gambling market is legal,
safe and reliable.
96
The Authority safeguard consumers’ interests and also make sure that the potentially harmful
social effects that gambling can entail are reduced. The Authority also works to ensure a sound and
safe gaming market and will contribute to a reduction in the number of illegal gambling and lottery
operations.
The Authority is responsible for:
•
•
•
•
•
licenses for national lotteries, gaming machines and casino games in restaurants.
approval to lottery tickets as well as to equipment for surveillance and drawing.
compliance and supervision of gambling and lottery operations.
raining and information on gambling and lottery legislation.
informing the Government about developments in the gaming market in Sweden and the rest of
the world.
Recent Developments/the Swedish gambling regulation
Under the current Lotteries Act, there are stricter criminal sanctions for the promotion of foreign
lotteries than of national lotteries. With reference thereto, the Swedish Supreme Court has declared
that the criminal sanctions against the promotion of foreign lotteries are incompatible with EU law.
While the Swedish Gambling Authority may issue orders and injunctions, under the penalty of fines,
against entities promoting unlicensed gambling, both the decision concerning a fine and the decision on
the imposition of a fine can be appealed in three instances. Thus, by the time such decisions are legally
binding, the prohibited action may have already ceased. In effect, the ineffective sanctions against the
prohibition against the promotion of unlicensed gambling have led to widespread marketing in Sweden
of unlicensed gambling operated from abroad.
In order to address these issues, an Inquiry was commissioned by the Swedish government in February
14, 2014, to remove the differences between the prohibition and sanctions available for the promotion
of unlicensed foreign lotteries and unlicensed national lotteries. The Inquiry was also commissioned to
consider an alternative system for orders and injunctions.
On March 30, 2015, the Inquiry published its investigation and proposed amendments to the Swedish
Lotteries Act. In the proposal, which was proposed to enter into force January 1, 2016, the Inquiry
suggests that the criminal sanctions for the promotion of unlicensed gambling shall be identical,
irrespective of whether or not the unlicensed gambling is organized in Sweden or abroad. Moreover,
the investigator suggests that the Swedish Gambling Authority shall be able to issue orders and
injunctions, under the penalty of a fine, which shall apply immediately. The Inquiry has been referred for
consideration and is currently being prepared at the Ministry of Finance.
On the 20th of November 2013 the European Commission requested Sweden, in the form of an
additional reasoned opinion on online betting and a reasoned opinion on online poker services, to
ensure compliance of its national rules establishing exclusive rights for the provision of online betting
services and for the provision of online poker services with EU law. Sweden answered these reasoned
opinions on the 21st of January 2014. In the answers Sweden argues that the national rules, with
upcoming amendments, fully comply with EU rules. The EU Commission did not find the Swedish
97
SWEDEN
SWEDISH GAMBLING AUTHORITY
answers to the reasoned opinion satisfactory. Therefore the European Commission decided to refer
Sweden to the European Court of Justice. However, the summons itself has not yet been issued.
On the 11 of July 2014 the European Commission sent Sweden a letter of formal notice regarding the
Swedish legislation concerning land based casinos and on-line lotteries in the form of casino games.
Sweden answered this formal notice on the 12th of September 2014. In the answer Sweden argues that
the national rules, with upcoming amendments, fully comply with EU rules. The European Commission
argues that the regulation concerning casinos doesn’t support a consequent and systematic strategy to
protect the consumers as the state control of the casinos is not sufficient. As the prohibition of onlinecasinos is not upheld, the Commission argues that this prohibition does not support a consequent and
systematic strategy to protect the consumers according to the commission.
The Swedish Gambling Authority’s Director General has been assigned and instructed to submit
proposals for a new gaming regulation. The regulation will aim to create a gaming market that is
characterized by a high level of consumer protection, high security of the games and clear conditions to
be allowed to operate in the market. The regulation will be based on a licensing system which means
that anyone who acts in the Swedish gaming market will do it with legal permits, and actors without
permission will be shut out.
On the 27 of November 2015 the Swedish Gambling Authority’s Director General signed the European
Commission’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the EU Members States gaming
authorities. The agreement covers four main areas: (a) an orderly exchange of information on gaming
operators, (b) the protection of consumers, protection of minors and ensure the integrity of all gambling.
(c) In addition, unnecessary paperwork is minimized, and finally (d) the exchange of best practices and
experiences on player protection, technological tools for effective supervision and responsible gaming
measures.
Other vital facts
All regulators have an open invitation to liaise with and visit Sweden for the purpose of developing
knowledge and relationships in terms of the provision and regulation of gambling.
98
99
COUNTRY REPORT
SWITZERLAND
a. The Swiss Gambling Market
The regulated market comprises of:
• Two state controlled sectors (casinos and lotteries/sports betting). Casinos are
regulated by the “Swiss Federal Casino Board” (see: B.); lotteries and sportsbetting are
regulated by the “Intercantonal Lottery and Betting Board”. The “Swiss Federal Office of
Justice” supervises this sector (see C.).
• 21 casinos (private operators).
• Lotteries and sports betting are run by non-profit organisations. Two large state owned
operators (“Swisslos” for German and Italian speaking part of Switzerland, “Loterie
Romande” for the French speaking part) provide for a comprehensive offer.
The Total GGR of the Swiss Gaming Market in 2013: 1’339 Million € (Casinos 607 Mill. €,
Lotteries and sports betting 728 Mill.)
b. Casinos and other games of chance
Regulator
Website
Number of employees
issues
Contact
Telephone
Email
100
Swiss Federal Gaming Board
www.esbk.ch
40
2000
Federal Ministry for Justice and Police
Federal Office of Justice, Intercantonal Lottery and
Betting Board (see C.)
Mr Jean-Marie Jordan, Director
+41 58 46 31205
jean-marie.jordan@esbk.admin.ch
The Swiss Federal Gaming Board
The Commission currently consists of six members, including its president. The Commission is assisted
by a permanent Secretariat chaired by the Director. The Secretariat main aim is to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
supervise the casinos
assess and levy casino taxes
qualification of games
investigate violations of the gambling laws and regulations.
Recent developments
1. Actually, the Swiss Federal Gaming Board occupies itself with the increase of the illegal game of
chance, which becomes more and more complex.
2. Intervention in casinos to ensure a safe and transparent gambling to prevent cheating (marked
cards…).
3. Reinforcement of the effectiveness of the social concept by integrating the experiences since the
opening of casinos.
101
COUNTRY REPORT
SWITZERLAND
c. Lotteries and sports betting
Regulator
Website
Number of employees
issues
Contact
Telephone
Email
Swiss Lottery and Betting Board (Comlot)
www.comlot.ch
10
2006
Swiss Federal Gaming Board (see B.) and Swiss Federal
Office of Justice (see D.)
Mr Manuel Richard, Director
+ 41 31 313 13 03
manuel.richard@comlot.ch
The Swiss Lottery and Betting Board (Comlot)
The Commission currently consists of five members, including its president. The Commission is
assisted by a permanent Secretariat, chaired by the Director. The main tasks of Comlot are to:
1. Licence and supervise the two large lottery operators and their games
2. Investigate violations of the lottery and sports betting regulations
3. Build the centre of competence for the cantons for all gambling related topics
Recent developments
During the year on review, besides fighting the illegal market, the Swiss Lottery and Betting
Board, in its function of surveillance, focused on controlling the execution of authorized games,
which has to be secure and socially responsible. The examination of the efficiency of online
prevention measures was of great importance, as was the topic of youth protection regarding
electronic games. Furthermore, during the year on review the Swiss Lottery and Betting Board
wrote for the first time a report on the Use of the Tax to Combat Gambling Addiction in all 26
cantons.
102
d. Supervision
Regulator
Website
Number of employees
issues
Contact
Telephone
Email
Swiss Federal Office of Justice (SFJO)
www.bj.admin.ch
3
1902
Swiss Federal Casino Board (see B.) and Swiss Lottery
and Betting Board (see C.).
Mr Reto Brand
+41 58 46 28701
reto.brand@bj.admin.ch
E. Other vital facts
The Ministry of Justice and Police has drafted a completely new gambling legislation. The
federal Council has submitted his final report to the Parliament in autumn 2015. In April 2016,
a commission of the Council of States has adopted the draft and forwarded it to the plenum.
Once the draft has passed both chambers of the Swiss parliament (Council of States and
National Council), there will be only one law regulating all forms of money games (this new
legislation will substitute the two different legislations on casinos and games of chance and on
lotteries and sports betting actually in force).
103
GREF Annual Meeting
St. Julian’s, 31 May - 2 June 2016
Venue:
The Westin Dragonara Resort,
Dragonara Road
St. Julian’s STJ 3143
Malta Phone: +356 2138 1000
www.westinmalta.com
Hotel Wifi Details:
Connect to “WestinRooms”
Open your browser
Follow the on-screen instructions (there is NO charge)
Contacts:
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
Phone: +35625469000
and
Claudette Mifsud
Mobile: +356 99433323
GREF website – www.gref.net

GREF 2016 Conference Brochure

Transcription

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