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REGULATION
OPERATOR TYPE : Private operators can apply for licences for all gambling products save for lottery . STATUS : The Remote Gambling Act , which entered into force on 1 April 2021 , set the framework for the Dutch licensing regime and market which opened on 1 October 2021 with the grant of 10 licences . Operators may now submit applications for a licence under the new regime . However , operators that have previously directly ‘ targeted ’ the Dutch market will face a 33-month cooling-off period before being eligible for a licence and may be liable to penalty for continuing to make their services available to Dutch players ( even passively ) until such time as they are licensed . A ban on untargeted gambling advertising entered into force on 1 July 2023 . On 3 June 2024 , the Dutch gambling regulator published rules requiring operators to implement net monthly deposit limits (€ 300 for those aged 18 to 24 and € 700 for those aged 24 or older ). If a customer wishes to deposit beyond those amounts , operators are required to carry out affordability checks before it can accept further deposits . These rules are scheduled to take effect from 1 October 2024 .
NORWAY
REGULATED GAMBLING PRODUCTS : Sports betting , horse race betting and lottery . OPERATOR TYPE : Online gambling is reserved for the two monopoly providers , Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto . STATUS : The monopoly has extended its offering to include live betting , online bingo and casino games in an attempt to redirect traffic from unlicensed sites . The Norwegian regulator continues to step up enforcement efforts against unregulated operators , local banks and payment service providers . The government has passed amendments to try and stem the flow of gambling supply from offshore , including enhanced enforcement powers to prevent gambling advertising from abroad . Expanded payment blocking provisions entered into effect on 1 January 2020 . Legislation consolidating Norway ’ s various gambling laws and further strengthening the regulator ’ s powers to address unlicensed gambling and the advertisement of the same entered into effect on 1 January 2023 .
POLAND
REGULATED GAMBLING PRODUCTS : Sports betting , horse race betting , casino and poker . OPERATOR TYPE : Betting licences are available for companies with a representative in Poland . Casino and poker are reserved for a state monopoly . STATUS : Legislation enacted on 1 January 2012 permits betting . Online gaming ( including poker ) is no longer prohibited as of 1 April 2017 , although the exclusive rights to offer such products are reserved for a state monopoly . Provisions that provide for the establishment of a blacklist of unlicensed operators and ISP and payment blocking came into force on 1 July 2017 . The blacklist contains more than 1,000 domain names .
PORTUGAL
REGULATED GAMBLING PRODUCTS : Sports betting , horse race betting , poker , casino , bingo and lottery . OPERATOR TYPE : Any EU / EEA operator can apply to be granted a licence for online gambling . Lottery games and landbased fixed-odds sports betting remain reserved for a monopoly . STATUS : A regulated market since 2015 . Although operators can apply for licences , their Portuguese revenue streams are subject to comparatively high tax rates , particularly in sports betting .
ROMANIA
REGULATED GAMBLING PRODUCTS : Sports betting , horse race betting , casino , bingo and lottery . OPERATOR TYPE : Any operator from an EU / EEA jurisdiction or the Swiss Confederation can apply for a licence . Lottery games remain reserved for the monopoly . STATUS : The Gambling Law ( as amended ) introduced a legal framework for a fully regulated online gambling market and requires licences to be held by online gambling operators , as well as software providers , payment processors , affiliates and testing labs . The secondary legislation that fully implemented the current licensing regime came into force on 26 February 2016 . The gambling regulator actively polices the regime and notifies ISPs to block blacklisted websites . In Q1 2023 the Senate of Romania discussed and approved proposals that seek to : ( i ) introduce a ban on gambling advertising between 6am to 11pm ( save for certain exceptions – e . g ., during live sports broadcasts during those hours ); and ( ii ) restrict the use of celebrities and public figures from promoting gambling . New amendments to the primary gambling legislation came into force on 6 October 2023 , most notably : ( i ) Class 1 ( B2C ) licensees will now be required to have a permanent establishment in Romania for tax purposes within six months ( i . e . by 6 April 2024 ) and ( ii ) annual licensing fees and responsible gambling contribution fees will increase . On 9 April 2024 the legislature approved and suggested amendments to the text of an emergency ordinance that has been in force since 6 October 2023 . The proposals include
90 • ISSUE 136 • iGB L ! VE 2024