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Legislation News

Netherlands prohibits gambling advertising before 9pm

Gambling advertising in the Netherlands will be further restricted under new rules adopted this week by lawmakers.

Advertising for licensed lotteries and games of chance in the Netherlands is currently prohibited on radio and television between the hours of 6am and 7pm but will change according to product type under a [...]

1 min read
Svenska Spel

Svenska Spel calls for new law to protect lottery operations

Sweden’s state-owned gaming operator Svenska Spel has called for more protection from lottery betting providers in order to safeguard its contributions to social causes.

The company, which operates national lottery games in Sweden alongside other betting and gaming activities, said that the country’s commercial gambling operators are circumventing its lottery monopoly [...]

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Norway approves new laws to prevent unlicensed gambling advertising

The government of Norway has taken further steps to try and protect the nation's gambling monopoly with new restrictions on gambling advertising by offshore operators.

The newly approved legislation gives the Norwegian Media Authority powers to combat advertising by unlicensed online gaming operators, both on TV and the internet.

The new powers [...]

1 min read
European Commission

Germany notifies new Gambling State Treaty to European Commission

Germany has submitted its proposed new gambling legislation to the European Commission for approval.

The fourth State Treaty on Gaming is scheduled to come into force on July 1st 2021 and will legalise online casino gaming in the country for the first time.

Under the proposed legislation, operators will be able to [...]

1 min read
Maryland

Maryland Governor allows sports betting proposal to pass without signature

Voters in Maryland will get to decide whether to allow sports betting in their state to fund public schools.

The question of expanding gambling to include sports and event wagering will be subject to a referendum in November after Governor Larry Hogan allowed the proposal to pass into law without his [...]

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New Jersey bills aim to help casinos recover from shutdown

Lawmakers in New Jersey have introduced legislation that would provide significant tax breaks to help Atlantic City casinos recover the COVID-19 shutdown.

The bill would temporarily modify taxes and fees relating to casinos’ land-based operations, and also amends the current law on the use of promotional gaming credits.

The bill would waive [...]

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Washington and West Virginia set to expand wagering options

Sport and racing enthusiasts in Washington and West Virginia could be able to bet on their favourite events once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, after their respective state Governors signed enabling legislation this week.

On Wednesday Governor Jay Inslee of Washington signed legislation authorising the state’s tribal gaming entities to amend Class [...]

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Wyoming set to regulate “skill” gaming machines

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed legislation to form the Wyoming Gaming Commission, which will assume responsibility for regulating the state’s gaming machines.

Wyoming’s skill-based gaming machines are similar to slots but add an element of player interaction (skill) through nudging reels, thereby circumventing the ban on slot machines outside tribal casinos. They were deemed [...]

1 min read
Maryland

Maryland sports betting bill headed to Governor Hogan for approval

Lawmakers in Maryland have passed a stripped down bill that will give voters the chance to approve an expansion of gambling in the state.

The original bill, which sought to authorise sports betting and set rules for licensure, has now been reduced to a four-page bill that enables the General Assembly [...]

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OPAP

OPAP closes retail point of sales and gaming halls in Greece

Greek lottery and gaming operator OPAP has suspended the operation of all points of sales and gaming halls in Greece for two weeks as the country looks to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The closures come after the Greek government imposed a temporary ban on the operation of a wide range of retail stores, indoor [...]

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PAGCOR suspends casino and other gaming activities in the Philippines

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has confirmed that it is suspending all gaming operations effective immediately.

In line with the instructions from President Rodrigo Duterte to put Metro Manila under community quarantine to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the suspension applies to land-based casinos, electronic game (eGames), bingo, sports betting, poker and [...]

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US casinos close as COVID-19 fears escalate

A number of US states temporarily suspended land-based casino operations over the weekend as a precautionary measure against the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

The states of Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Rhode Island, all confirmed that casino operations would be temporarily suspended for at least the next two weeks, [...]

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