La nouvelle legislation belge sur les jeux de hasard

La Chambre des représentants a adopté, le 3 décembre 2009, la nouvelle législation belge relative aux jeux de hasard. Celle-ci n’est pas encore publiée au Moniteur belge. La nouvelle législation devrait entrer en vigueur le 1er janvier 2011 au plus tard.

Les objectifs principalement poursuivis par la présente loi sont au nombre de trois :

• Des modifications substantielles de la Commission des jeux de hasard, notamment en ce qui concerne son organisation et un accroissement de son pouvoir de sanction.
• Une régulation cohérente de la législation sur les jeux de hasard.
• Une extension du champ d’application de la loi sur les jeux de hasard aux jeux de hasard offerts par le biais des instruments de la société de l’information (dont internet), aux jeux médias et aux paris.

Harris Hagan February Newsletter

Inside this issue

1. In brief
2. New Jersey
3. France update
4. Germany—raffles
5. Germany treaty
6. Data transfer
7. Advertising software
8. Online contract terms
9. Sports integrity
10. Skill machines—UK

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Harris Hagan January Newsletter

Inside this issue

1. European developments
2. New company form
3. Product placement
4. Consumer protection
5. Prize competitions
6. Rank VAT claim
7. Jersey Gambling Commission

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UK’s Remote Gambling Regime To Be Reviewed In Light Of Rapid Technological Advances

In April 2009, the UK Minister for Sport announced that in response to the “rapid technological advances in online gambling”, the UK Government was going to explore a range of measures to ensure that British licensees were competing on a level-playing field with their overseas competitors. The DCMS said at the time that the Government would be looking to make the regulatory system fairer for UK licensed operators, but would also be working with the Gambling Commission on a number of issues such as recouping regulatory costs, obtaining funding for research into problem gambling in the UK and contributions to the Horserace Betting Levy (the annual fee which is collected from bookmakers and used to support the horseracing industry).

Whitelist operators who were advertising their services in the UK were singled out in the announcement as under the current system they benefit from a regime which allows them to advertise in the UK if they are based within the European Economic Area, Gibraltar or in one of the jurisdictions included on the Whitelist. Inclusion on the Whitelist also means that operators do not pay any levy on horseracing bets or wagers.

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Unjustified restrictions to EU Law dismissed even for a transitional period

In the absence of harmonisation of the gaming legislations, the European Court of Justice has not yet finished to deliver rulings upon the compatibility with European Union law of domestic laws. The opinion of advocate general Bot delivered on 26 January 2010 completes an abundant and consistent case-law on this aspect. The refusal to derogate from the principle of primacy of EU law over national laws has been upheld.

Winner Wetten GmbH is a company established in Germany which provides sports bets services on behalf of another company established and registered in Malta. Pursuant to the legislation of the Land Nordrhein Whestphalen, pursuant to which theses activities are limited, Winner Wetten has been prohibited from continuing to carrying out unauthorized sports betting. Relying upon the freedom to provide services, Winner Wetten has instituted court proceedings against this decision. The Judge has considered it was necessary to make a reference for a preliminary ruling to the Court and wanted to ascertain whether a national law instituting a State monopoly on sports betting which contains restrictions on the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services, inasmuch as it do not serve to limit betting activities in a consistent and systematic manner, may still continue to apply exceptionally for a transitional period. … Continue Reading