Poker rooms open, slot machines are rejected, and legislation goes every which way – here is a brief overview of the poker and iGaming news in Europe.
- The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) joined forces with eCOGRA to raise the standards of EGBA’s member gaming companies. EGBA members (which include Party Gaming and 888.com) now have to voluntarily comply with over 170 requirements to ensure fairness, security and responsible gaming. A compulsory annual audit of member sites will be carried out by eCOGRA.
- A trade delegation from the EU is getting ready for a Washington visit later this month, where they intend to press several points regarding anti-gaming legislation; especially focusing on the inconsistencies between how US and foreign operators are treated as well as allegations of discrimination both before and after the UIGEA was passed. The potential consequences could be as serious as a formal Trade Barriers Regulation complaint against the US government.
- Down to individual countries, Germany has seen a decrease in trade in State-owned gaming facilities after the passing of the State Treaty on Gambling, which has diminished the advertising and marketing allowed to state operators as well as enforced more stringent identification measures to prevent underage and problem gambling. Unfortunately German customers have simply turned to private and even unlicensed operators to avoid the registration process and smoking ban.
- UK-based Victor Chandler takes the online experience one step further by offering video streaming of live dealers for VCLiveCasino.ie. The site will offer blackjack, baccarat and roulette –as well as three other games to be announced – which will be dealt by real dealers in a studio in Latvia and streamed live to online players across the world.
- Norwegian communities do not want new gaming machines, and they are attempting to block their installation through municipal initiatives. Norwegian State owned gaming monopoly Norsk Tipping had plans of installing 7,000 gaming machines across the country, but polls have shown the public’s lack of support, and several communities are attempting to keep the machines out of their jurisdiction by conjuring the alcohol licensing law.
- Finally, Belgium is looking into opening its online gaming market. Belgium’s betting and casino market are already quite liberalized, and now the government is looking into allowing the National Lottery to operate online, which could open the door to foreign operators as early as 2009.