Munich Conference EU Gaming Market Regulation Changes

A conference, entitled "The Case for Gambling De-Regulation in Europe", was held on 27 April 2006, hosted by the PKF Malta at the beautiful five-star Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Central Munich, Germany. The purpose of the conference was to allow gaming interests to communicate their views on loosened regulations on European gambling. Currently, European laws represent a 'patchwork quilt' with little consistence from country to country.

The EU Gaming Market appointed the Swiss Institute of Comparative law to study how these differing regulations regarding both land-based and Internet-based gambling impact economic development as well as functioning of Internet markets. With revenues estimated at EUR200 billion last year and growth anticipated yearly, the world of e-commerce is missing a key source of income and profit and the drive to change is easy to comprehend.

Britain and Malta already have regulations in place in some of the various jurisdictions, allowing this important tax base to provide government revenues. British subjects are not barred from Internet gambling as long as the websites are not based in England. On the other hand, Austrian and Dutch players must choose websites owned and licensed by their own state and within their country's borders.

Other topics of discussion at the conference included updates on impacts of money laundering rules, threats of gaming fraud, responsible gambling and the growth of mobile gaming with focus on poker, bingo and slot machines. Of course, underage gambling was also included with a keynote speaker addressing the issue and suggesting a strict regulation system be implemented for requiring proof of age in order to register for online gaming, yet simple enough not to discourage players of legal age.

Oddset, the German state monopoly on sports betting, was rules unconstitutional on March 28, 2006. This, of course, was a major discussion topic. The ruling declared that Oddset operated with too few checks and balances to ensure responsible gambling and also declared it unconstitutional in terms of the right to free occupation by barring sports betting bookmakers. This is considered a landmark ruling.

It is clear that the current mindset of people in Europe is that the patchwork regulations should be done away with and a consistent, logical and ethical set of regulations allowing freedom of choice should be implemented. The results of the conference may be seen in future legislation by the various countries involved.