Legal & compliance Archives

December 6, 2023

Brazil: Could today’s vote be delayed?

Today (6 December) Brazil's senate plenary is set to vote on whether to approve Bill 3,626/23, which would legalise sports betting and igaming. But could this crucial vote be delayed?

When Brazil’s Economic Affairs Commission (CAE) approved Bill 3,626 two weeks ago, the industry thought the Senate plenary vote couldn’t be too far away. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

The senate plenary’s vote was initially scheduled for 29 November. However, the vote was delayed until December after more than 100 amendments were added to the bill.

This takes us to the present day. The senate plenary’s vote is scheduled to take place at 2pm local time (5pm GMT).

iGB understands that this vote will be delayed by six days, to take place on 12 December. Senators have allegedly been told that the minimum number of senators needed to vote today will not be met.

In this case, the vote could not go ahead because approval of the bill may be compromised.

What effect would this have?

If this vot..

December 6, 2023

Australian Senate approves credit card online gambling ban legislation

The Australia Senate has approved legislation to prohibit the use of credit cards for online gambling in the country, with a near-blanket ban set to come into effect within six months.

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 was introduced in September. This legislation seeks to ban credit cards and other credit-related products, as well as digital currencies, in Australia.

Australia’s House of Representatives passed the bill last month, allowing it to progress to the Senate. Today (6 December), the Senate also approved the legislation, clearing the way for it to pass into law.

The country already has a ban in place on gambling with credit cards at land-based venues. This means the bill effectively places a blanket ban on credit card gambling across Australia.

What is in the credit card bill?

Aside from a ban on credit products, the bill features several other related measures. These include fines of up to AU$234,750 (£122,475/€143,003/US$154,282)..

December 6, 2023

Amendments submitted for California sports betting ballot

Eagle1 Acquisitions Corp, the group of backers for a proposition to legalise sports betting in California, has made several amendments to its ballot initiative in an effort to gain further tribal support.

Tabled in October, the Sports Wagering Regulation and Tribal Gaming Protection Act, would allow for legal betting. If approved, the ballot would amend Article IV, section 19 of the California constitution. This will grant tribes exclusive rights to offer retail and online betting.

The initial version of the ballot set out several measures. These included tribes submitting 15% of adjusted sports betting gross gaming revenue into a tribal wagering revenue sharing trust fund.

Tribes would also contribute 10% of their adjusted sports wagering GGR into the California homelessness and mental health fund. It was also stated that tribes would need to partner sports betting operators, which would operate as vendors. These will require approval from both the Tribal Gaming Agency and Califor..

December 4, 2023

DeSantis team requests to dismiss petition against betting in Florida

Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ office has formally requested the state's Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit challenging sports betting in the state ahead of its scheduled expansion this week.

Attorney-general Ashley Moody claimed the petition brought by pari-mutuel betting operator West Flagler Associates is “unjustifiable”. The submission defended the state’s gambling compact between the Florida authorities and the Seminole tribe, which was signed in 2021.

Last month, the Seminole tribe, which has the exclusive right to offer gambling in Florida, re-launched its Hard Rock Bet service in the state.

Among the reasons Moody puts forward for the dismissal is the more than two years West Flagler took to submit its petition, following the signing of the gambling compact. Moody also argues that West Flagler’s petition for writ of quo warranto fails to meet legal standards.

Finally, Moody argues the petition is incorrect to claim sports betting is “casino gambling” as defined in th..

December 1, 2023

Oddset Sportwetten pledges support to Germany’s DSWV

German sports betting trade body Deutscher Sportwettenverband (DSWV) has welcomed state-owned operator Oddset Sportwetten as its latest member.

Oddset Sportwetten joins DSWV with immediate effect from today (1 December). It means all major private or state-owned operators in Germany are now working with the DSWV.

The operator will join other brands in working with the the DSWV to protect legal sports betting in the country.

“The regulation of sports betting in Germany – in particular important issues of player protection and the fight against the black market – will be the focus of the joint work,” the DSWV said.

Founded in 2014, the DSWV represents the interests of sports betting providers in Germany. The organisation facilitates dialogue between operators, politicians and the media.

Other DSWV members include Admiral Bet, Bet-at-home, Bet365, Betway, Bild Bet, Bwin, Interwetten, Sportwetten.de and Tipico.

DSWV-backed study flags concerns over Germany black market

News of the e..

December 1, 2023

North Carolina approves online sports betting licence applications

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission has approved applications for sports betting licensure, with operators able to begin applying for licences in the state.

Online sports betting operators, as well as associated sports betting suppliers and providers, can now submit applications. The North Carolina State Lottery Commission will review any applications put forward.

The approval takes North Carolina a step closer to launching its legal sports betting market. Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law in June, officially legalising wagering.

However, a launch date for the market has not yet been confirmed. Commission chair Ripley Rand said this will depend on a number of factors, primarily how long the application process takes.

Rand said the Commission will need to review all applications and supporting information. It will also need to complete background checks and analyse all internal control details before it can set a launch date.

The Commission has 60 days to r..

November 29, 2023

Brazil’s Senate plenary to delay final voting on regulation until December

Today's vote in Brazil's Senate plenary has been delayed until December, following more than 100 amendments to the bill.

Originally scheduled to vote for today (29 November), the Senate plenary has agreed to delay the vote until an unconfirmed date in December.

This follows the bill being presented by Senator Angelo Coronel, a key proponent for legalisation in Brazil.

The newly proposed amendments total more than 100, which will now be considered. These include a proposed taxation of fantasy sports on the same level as the 12% for sports betting and online casino, as well as the role of the health sector in the exclusion process.

Due to the requested amends, and there being a lack of of quorum to vote, the vote will now be delayed.

The president of the Brazilian Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, will now need to decide the next voting date, although this is expected to be in December.

Once the bill is approved, it will need to be returned to the Chamber of Deputies for revie..

November 27, 2023

Brazil’s upcoming vote: Everything you need to know

Brazil's Senate plenary could vote to legalise sports betting and online casino on Wednesday (29 November). Ahead of the vote, we bring you all you need to know about the journey so far.

Before we delve into the complex legal history of sports betting in Brazil, let’s start off with last week’s key step.

Last Tuesday (21 November), the industry was waiting eagerly for Brazil’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) to vote on whether to greenlight sports betting and igaming through Bill 3,626/2023. This was delayed by one day on the request of senators, according to Senado Noticias.

The bill will now head to the Senate Plenary this Wednesday (29 November)

The CAE’s eventual approval on Wednesday 22 November gave the thumbs-up for the bill to move to the Senate plenary. This session will now take place this Wednesday (29 November). If the plenary vote goes in the bill’s favour, sports betting and igaming will officially be legal in Brazil.

Importantly, the outcome at the CAE confirm..

November 22, 2023

Brazil sports betting tax rate set at 12% as attempt to remove igaming fails

A reduced 12% tax rate for Brazil sports betting was confirmed after the country's Economic Affairs Commission (CAE) approved Bill 3,626/23 today (22 November) while an attempt to remove igaming from the legislation was rebuffed.

The approval of the bill text by the CAE greenlights the bill to go to the Senate plenary. The Senate plenary vote will take place on 29 November, during which sports betting – alongside igaming – could be given the all-clear in Brazil.

If the Senate alters the bill text, it will go back to the Chamber of Deputies for review. The lower chamber approved Bill 3,626/2023 in September.

However it faced opposition from senators including Eduardo Girão and Carlos Portinho. Attempts to remove igaming from the legislation also failed during today’s session, after online casino was unexpectedly added to the sports betting bill in September.

The vote was set to take place yesterday before it was postponed by the CAE. According to the Senate agency on Senado Not..

November 20, 2023

GC’s Andrew Rhodes walks the tightrope on affordability checks

Fifty-year UK industry veteran, David Brown, evaluates the tightrope being walked by the Gambling Commission on affordability checks.

During the “largest ever gathering of industry leaders” on 10 November, Andrew Rhodes, the Gambling Commission’s (GC) chief executive, attempted to walk the tightrope on affordability checks.

The story of affordability checks has created the most united front between punter, racing media and bookmaker that the UK has seen.

To his credit, we can certainly say that Rhodes has arguably done more to bring the industry together than anyone ever before.

However, that united front is now against him and the Gambling Commission, especially following his speech on 8 November.

The challenge that the GC now faces is the need to balance player protection while keeping the industry sustainable.

The speech: what went wrong

Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes has a tightrope to walk WITH AFFORDABILITY CHECKS

The GC has a precarious tightrope to walk. Howev..

November 20, 2023

Florida Supreme Court rejects West Flagler motion to block Hard Rock Bet

The Florida State Supreme Court rejected a motion from pari-mutuel betting operator West Flagler Associates to suspend Hard Rock Bet and its online sports betting offering in the state.

West Flagler filed the motion earlier this month to stop Hard Rock Bet from offering sports betting in Florida. The motion requested the court to expedite the exercise of its all writs in the jurisdiction to immediately suspend online sports betting.

West Flagler argued the suspension should last until a final ruling on its petition for writ of quo warranto.

This came after Hard Rock Bet, which is operated by the Seminole tribe, launched in Florida on 7 November. Early access was available to customers who bet previously with the operator and members of Hard Rock’s loyalty scheme.

However, in a blow to West Flagler, Florida’s State Supreme Court on Friday (17 November) rejected this request. The decision was announced in a short notice released by the court.

“The ‘Motion to Expedite Consideration..

November 14, 2023

Australia lower house passes credit card gambling ban bill

The Australia House of Representatives, the lower house of the country’s parliament, has passed a bill that would introduce a blanket ban on using credit cards for online gambling.

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 was submitted in September. It seeks to ban credit cards and other credit-related products, as well as digital currencies.

Introducing the bill has led to significant debate in parliament, with several amendments being filed to alter the bill. However, these were ultimately unsuccessful and the bill passed today (14 November) with support from both major parties in Australia.

The bill will now move forward to the Senate, the upper house of parliament in Australia, for further debate.

Breaking down the credit card bill

Aside from the ban on credit products, the bill includes a host of other measures that would come into effect.

These include heavy fines for operators that do not enforce the ban. Licensees in Australia could face..

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Tag: Legal & compliance