Legal & Regulatory News

The governing body of Spanish football, Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP), has warned of serious consequences if the country’s proposed gaming law is enacted in its current form,  which it says only serves the financial interests of the state and autonomous communities.

Following a public consultation launched in May 2009 into the reform of Ireland’s gambling laws, Ireland’s Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern T.D, has published proposals which would regulate the country’s casino industry as well as address for the first time the regulation of remote gambling.

Football Pools operator Sportech plc has confirmed that it has formally lodged an appeal to the independent First Tier Tax Tribunal for the repayment of more than £40m in VAT overpaid to Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Having spent years discussing and formulating regulations to govern online gaming, Spain’s state lottery operator, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (LAE), has given industry stakeholders just 12 days in which to comment on the draft gaming regulations, with much of that time consumed by the holiday period.

Almost one year to the day since Senator Raymond Lesniak first introduced a bill to the legislature seeking to authorise and regulate online gaming within the state, New Jersey lawmakers on Monday voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill which now only requires the signature of Governor Chris Christie in order to pass into law.

The German state of Schleswig-Holstein continues to take a lead in formulating a workable gambling policy to replace the current State Treaty on Gaming, publishing draft legislation which it hopes will serve as a basis for future Federal legislation.

Belgium has notified the European Commission of draft regulations concerning the licensing of online gaming operators, as it readies to open its online gaming market in March.

The U.S Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri has announced that six defendants have been sentenced for their part in conducting a $3.5m illegal online gambling business target the U.S market, with the organiser and leader of the operation sentenced to 14 months in federal prison without parole.

In response to the European Commission’s Detailed Opinion against draft legislation to regulate gaming in Romania, the government has submitted a revised draft which is now subject to a standstill period ending March 1st.

New Jersey’s State Senate yesterday approved measures to reform Atlantic City’s ailing casino industry by creating a state-controlled casino and entertainment district as well as revised regulations governing the casino industry.