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Unlicensed Gaming Sites in Switzerland to be Blocked and Blacklisted
June 25, 2019 Aleksandra Zolotic
The long-awaited launch of the Swiss iGaming market is only days away, and the regulatory bodies already expressed strong determination to implement measures to protect consumers. Shortly after the introduction, two operators…
…are expected to end up on the blacklist. The providers that obtain the approval to operate in the country will have to follow a strict code of conduct.
Outlawing the Unlicensed
The Inter-Cantonal Lotteries and Betting Commission (Comlot) outlined further details of distributors that are eligible to be blacklisted. The list will be introduced following the Federal Act on Gaming – which outlaws uncertified gaming platforms from operating in Swiss territory – coming into effect in January. The Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) and the Lotteries and Betting Commission (Comlot)…
…can prohibit websites that are accessible in the country but hold no license. The names of such suppliers will be published on the blacklist with their domains blocked by a domain name server (DNS) lock. Brands that are not active in the country, or those that withdraw from the market before July, will not be added to the list or blocked.
Four Establishments Greenlighted so Far
The Bundesrat, the Swiss National Council, already gave certifications by approving iGaming license applications from four of the country’s land-based venues – Grand Casino Baden, Casino Davos, Grand Casino Luzern, and Casino Zürichsee. Just to remind, the parlors applied for the approvals to extend their gaming services online…
…roulette. However, at the same time, they will be obliged to adhere to strict measures on setting maximum sums for poker tournaments, small lotteries, and raffles. If not acting by the rules, they risk license revocation and ending up on the blacklist as well.
Controversies Regarding the Measures
Though the language in the Federal Gaming Act that granted Swiss authorities the power to order internet service providers to block access to certain sites has the major purpose to level-up protection measures, still it raised certain controversies. Those who oppose the idea point out that it amounted to censorship. This forced a referendum on the legislation, that ultimately saw Swiss residents vote in favor of the proposition, paving the way for the Act’s introduction.
Nevertheless, Comlot stressed that “the first two blocking orders are likely to be issued by the two supervisory authorities” in the third quarter of 2019. The names of the two operators that will be blacklisted are not revealed. In addition to this, numerous factors have a significant impact over the exact time of the announcement of the list.
Source:
“Swiss regulator prepares to launch iGaming blacklist”, igamingbusiness.com, June 24, 2019.
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This sounds like quite a good measure to protect the consumers and the market as well. I think every regulatory body should have a practice like this one.