WEBMASTER WORLD
DENMARK
(“RAY”), Fintoto Oy and Veikkaus Oy. The
Status: The licensing regime in Germany is
Regulated Gambling Products: Sports
monopolies are soon to be merged into one
in a state of flux. The tender for 20 Federal
betting, horse race betting, poker, casino,
state entity (expected to take effect from 1
sports betting licences was abortive, following
bingo and lottery.
January 2017).
a number of appeals by operators who were
Operator Type: Sports betting, poker and
Status: An ECJ ruling confirmed that
not granted a licence. The CJEU ruled,
casino licences are available to private
Finland’s three monopoly providers are legally
on 4 February 2016, that Germany’s sports
operators. Bingo, lottery and horse race
permitted, which has subsequently been
betting regulation is incompatible with EU
betting (fixed odds only) is controlled by the
written into law. In November 2013, the EC
law and that enforcement actions will be
state monopoly.
also withdrew infringement proceedings.
unlawful where a de facto monopoly exists
Status: The Danish online gambling regime
went live on 1 January 2012.
ISP-blocking measures are active in the
Active enforcement measures are in place
and none of the 20 licences could, in practice,
(restrictive marketing for offshore operators
be acquired. The decision has led to calls for
and ISP blocking).
comprehensive legal reform of Germany’s
jurisdiction and the Danish Gaming Authority
gambling legislation, which is currently being
has been granted an injunction in order to
FRANCE
debated. The state of Hesse has adopted a
block operators and suppliers that have been
Regulated Gambling Products: Sports
formal policy of tolerance (similar to that of
targeting Danish customers without the
betting, horse race betting, poker and lottery.
a quasi-licensing regime) requiring sports-
requisite licence. In December, the government
Operator Type: Private operators can obtain
betting and betting-exchange operators to
adopted two amendment bills which create
online licences for sports betting, horse
apply for a ‘tolerance’ by 15 November 2016.
specific licences for fantasy sports operators, as
race betting and poker. The monopoly has
well as bring about certain new match-fixing
exclusive rights to lottery.
GREAT BRITAIN
and AML measures.
Status: France is a regulated market that has
Regulated Gambling Products: Sports
been sanctioned by the EC.
betting, horse race betting, poker, casino,
ESTONIA