Compliance Updates
European Court of Justice Rejects Challenge to Italian Gambling Taxes
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Italian gambling taxes do not constitute discrimination against companies based in other countries.
The case involving one of the EU’s largest betting companies, Stanleybet, was sent to the European Court of Justice by Italian tax authorities after the British company complained that an 8 million euro tax bill was illegal.
The Luxembourg-based court held Wednesday that because the tax “applies to all operators who manage bets collected on Italian territory, without making a distinction on the basis of the place of establishment of those operators…the imposition of that tax on Stanleybet Malta cannot be regarded as discriminatory.”
Founded in Northern Ireland in 1958, Stanleybet operates so-called data transmission centres, or DTCs, in Italy. In Italy, gamblers can place bets at licensed betting shops and also at DTCs, which operate essentially as internet cafes where gamblers can place bets online.
One of the principal legal concepts of the 27-member political and economic union is that it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of nationality. However, member states are allowed to impose taxes as they see fit, so long as the assessments comply with EU law.
According to the five-judge panel, countries are not obligated to alter their own systems to ensure double taxation within the EU doesn’t occur.
The taxation case will now be returned to the Italian national courts for a final ruling.
REEVO, the fast-growing online game provider, announced that its portfolio of in-house games has officially been certified for the Portuguese market, marking another important milestone in the company’s ongoing expansion across Europe’s regulated iGaming sector.
With certification secured, REEVO games are now approved for licensed operators in Portugal, enabling the company to introduce its innovative slot titles and immersive gameplay experiences to players across the country.
Portugal represents one of Europe’s most respected regulated markets, and the certification underscores REEVO’s commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant gaming content that meets the strict requirements of regulated jurisdictions while maintaining the creativity and performance that define the REEVO brand.
Portuguese operators will now gain access to:
• REEVO’s premium portfolio of in-house slot games
• High-performance, mobile-first gameplay
• Innovative features designed to enhance player engagement
• Fully certified and regulator-approved content
“Achieving certification in Portugal is an exciting milestone for REEVO and an important step in our European growth strategy. We are thrilled to bring our in-house games to Portuguese operators and players, continuing our mission to deliver engaging, high-quality content across regulated markets,” said Karl Grech, Head of Business Development at REEVO.
The post REEVO Obtains Certification in Portugal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has appointed Sue Young as its new Executive Director of Operations.
Sue joins the Commission from HMRC where she was Director of Debt Management. She brings extensive leadership experience from across the public sector, including senior roles at the Home Office, including Border Force and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and the Department of Health and Social Care.
As Executive Director for Operations, Sue will lead a number of the Commission’s operational functions as the regulator continues its work to keep gambling safer, fairer and crime free.
Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Sue to the Gambling Commission. There is a great deal of important work underway across our operational teams, not least our continued focus on tackling the illegal market and delivering strong regulatory outcomes. Sue brings a wealth of operational leadership experience and I’m very much looking forward to working with her.”
Sue Young said: “I’m excited to be joining the Gambling Commission and to be learning about a new sector. The Commission plays an important role in protecting consumers and ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and safely. I’m looking forward to building on the significant work already underway across the organisation.”
The post UKGC Appoints Sue Young as its Executive Director of Operations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Fanatics Betting and Gaming has announced the appointments of Alex Smith to the position of Chief Legal Officer and Sara Tait to Senior Vice President and Head of Legal and Regulated Industries.
Reporting to Fanatics Betting and Gaming CEO Matt King, Smith will be a member of the FBG executive team and lead legal, regulatory, compliance, and government affairs strategy for the company’s rapidly growing sports betting and iGaming division. Smith Joined FBG in 2021 as VP of Legal and Regulatory Compliance and spearheaded the fastest state by state roll out for Fanatics Sportsbook in the history of U.S. sports betting.
“Alex was one of our first hires and he helped build our legal and regulatory apparatus that has allowed us to launch products rapidly in legal sports betting, iCasino and prediction markets. As we continue to grow, Alex is the perfect person to lead our legal and regulatory functions into the future,” said Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming.
Reporting to Alex Smith, Tait will have wide responsibilities spanning multiple strategic subject matters within FBG, specifically serving as legal counsel to the regulated gaming and markets products. She is responsible for developing and managing FBG’s relationships with federal and state regulators; contributing to government affairs efforts and strategic industry initiatives; furthering FBG’s consumer protection measures; and maintaining licenses and registrations with federal and state oversight bodies.
“Sara is a well-respected former gaming regulator who also has experience in the private sector, making her the ideal choice to lead critical legal and regulatory efforts. The legal and regulatory landscape for sports betting, iCasino and prediction markets are constantly changing and having someone that has been on both sides of the regulatory landscape will be invaluable to us as we continue our growth trajectory,” said Smith.
The post Fanatics Betting and Gaming Appoints Alex Smith as its Chief Legal Officer appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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