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Liberalization of online games : Some European countries still reluctant
It is an indisputable fact, online gaming and poker in particular, are increasingly popular in various European countries. Faced to this situation, each country adopts a policy favorable to them. And in general, two systems are seen across the continent. On one hand, countries which adopt the opening even partial to competition of games like poker, sports betting, and the other, those who still have reticence against liberalization. First, some countries felt necessary to regulate their markets. Among others are part of this group countries like Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and France which are nations where this game is rooted in culture and manners for years.
Other countries of Eastern Europe, the former Soviet bloc are added to this list : Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Malta. However, we should nuance that, as in France, only horse betting, sports betting and online poker have been opened to competition, so it's not the case in Estonia where the games are fully liberalized 100%. For the second group, it is camped in their position by not opening their markets. This is the case of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece, Finland, Portugal, Slovenia, Hungary and Germany. For this last country, similarity with the law against gambling in the United States exists. Advertising is prohibited as the case of its neighboring Switzerland. However, some countries like Hungary and Spain are trying to review their positions with regard to online games, which previously were reluctant.
Source: Poker 777
Thursday, 05 August 2010
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