Ireland Considers Betting Tax Change
Irish Finance Minister Brain Cowen announced that he is establishing a working group to examine betting tax. The government charges bookmakers 2 percent on all bets, and in shops where the fee is passed on to consumers, punters must pay 2 cents per euro in addition to their stake. Cowen confirmed that the working group will consider converting the betting tax regime to a gross betting tax system, meaning that betting companies will be taxed based on the difference between the amount of cash received as bets and the amount paid out as winnings.
Jueteng Kickbacks Threaten Philippine Presidency
A pervasive illegal numbers betting game called jueteng is at the heart of much political strife in the Philippines. The Senate has opened hearings and investigations into allegations that President Gloria Macagapal Arroyo's husband (a lawyer) and son (a prominent representative) accepted money from jueteng operators for protection. President Arroyo is also accused of rigging last year's election. Amid a struggling economy, protestors and many from the opposition party are calling for her resignation.
Chinese Censorship Continues
The Chinese government in April initiated an online games censorship policy that will last until September. The policy prohibits games that include elements of pornography, gambling, violence and subversive ideas that threaten state security. Games developers are also required to amend games that can cause addiction.
Records show that 1,800 Internet pornography sites have been shut down since the introduction of China's online reporting center last June. Chinese citizens are encouraged to report pornographic and other undesirable Internet sites (including gambling sites) to the center, and some members of the public have received cash incentives for their duties.
UK Timeline
Britain's Gambling Commission is expected to be formally established by autumn 2005, according to the commission's new Web site at gamblingcommission.org.uk. The commission hopes to release information about new gambling tax structures by November and to begin accepting applications for remote gaming licenses at the end of 2006.
France's Monopoly Betting Firm Seeks Action
French bookmaking group Paris Mutuel Urbain (PMU) is reportedly preparing to take action against ZEturf, an online race wagering site that launched June 20. PMU, which is composed of 63 French bookmakers, believes that its monopoly on horserace wagering in France should prevent ZEturf from offering services to French citizens, but ZEturf says its services are legal because its betting sites are located in the United Kingdom, Austria, Finland and Malta. PMU also believes that French residents who use unauthorized online betting sites could be liable for fines of up to 45,000 euro and prison terms of up to three years.
Gambling Liberalization in Israel
The Mifal Hapayis Lottery now operates around 500 slot machines in about 150 restaurants and pubs throughout Israel. Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the legislature in May that he was beginning to plan a project to construct a casino strip in Eilat and also preparing the necessary legislation. A bill is expected to be introduced by the end of the year, with the first casino up and running within 18 months.
Queensland to Allow Online Lottery Ticket Sales
Queensland lottery operator Golden Casket is scheduled to begin selling lottery tickets on its Web site by October 2005. To verify that players are of legal age, Golden Casket and the Queensland government will require players to register at news agencies across the state before they may set up accounts to pay for lottery games online. Gold Lotto, Oz Lotto and Powerball will be available online, but electronic scratch cards and other instant games will not be available.