Online Casino Transfer: News - Austrian Laws Show Little Improvement

07/16/2010		Online Casino Style: News Austrian Laws Show Little Improvement
Home History Games News Dictionary		Though the revisions of the Austrian gambling laws have long been anticipated by the online gambling community as a mark of change and compliance, the final versions accepted by their government have resulted in a disappointment to the rest of the market as the passed laws have made little improvement for the online gambling sector. Internet operators are already reacting strongly to the lack of consideration in the new legislation, which are no less fair to open trade than before. The changes were supposed to have moved Austria closer to compliance with the trade and services laws laid down by the European Commission. The efforts have been two years in the making, and the newly revised laws presented last month have fallen way short, according to most in the internet casino world. Foreign operators are still left out in the cold, with Austrian companies continuing to hold the exclusive right to hold operation licenses. Moreover, only Austrian companies are allowed to access those internet casinos, an alarming restriction that effectively creates a closed system. The advertising laws are exclusive as well, with foreign online gambling companies forbidden from advertising in Austria, even though domestic firms may, as well as European land-based casinos. The new laws does little for the online gambling sector, with the biggest changes coming in the expanded availability of slot machines. Before slot machines were only available in four locations, Vienna, Styria, Carinthis, and Lower Austria. Now, the location matters less, however, games will be limited to only one per every 1,200 residents, or 1 in 600 for the nation’s capital Vienna. Additionally, a minimum distance must be kept between machines, 15 kilometers between them outside of the city. The new laws does nothing for offshore gambling companies, setting the stage only for more Austria companies to enter the market. It’s a matter of fine print, with the new changes technically eliminating the monopoly banned by the European Union, but leaving no room for foreign companies to enjoy the so-called new freedoms.

07/16/2010

Online Casino Style: News
Austrian Laws Show Little Improvement

Though the revisions of the Austrian gambling laws have long been anticipated by the online gambling community as a mark of change and compliance, the final versions accepted by their government have resulted in a disappointment to the rest of the market as the passed laws have made little improvement for the online gambling sector. Internet operators are already reacting strongly to the lack of consideration in the new legislation, which are no less fair to open trade than before.

The changes were supposed to have moved Austria closer to compliance with the trade and services laws laid down by the European Commission. The efforts have been two years in the making, and the newly revised laws presented last month have fallen way short, according to most in the internet casino world. Foreign operators are still left out in the cold, with Austrian companies continuing to hold the exclusive right to hold operation licenses. Moreover, only Austrian companies are allowed to access those internet casinos, an alarming restriction that effectively creates a closed system.

The advertising laws are exclusive as well, with foreign online gambling companies forbidden from advertising in Austria, even though domestic firms may, as well as European land-based casinos. The new laws does little for the online gambling sector, with the biggest changes coming in the expanded availability of slot machines. Before slot machines were only available in four locations, Vienna, Styria, Carinthis, and Lower Austria. Now, the location matters less, however, games will be limited to only one per every 1,200 residents, or 1 in 600 for the nation’s capital Vienna. Additionally, a minimum distance must be kept between machines, 15 kilometers between them outside of the city.

The new laws does nothing for offshore gambling companies, setting the stage only for more Austria companies to enter the market. It’s a matter of fine print, with the new changes technically eliminating the monopoly banned by the European Union, but leaving no room for foreign companies to enjoy the so-called new freedoms.