In accordance with “recent regulatory developments”, William Hill has confirmed that it will exit its betting and gaming services from Estonia and Portugal markets.
The operator send email communications to its affiliates and media partners stating that its services for the markets would end on 28 June.
Affiliates and media partners have been instructed to remove all William Hill marketing inventory
William Hill has further instructed Estonian and Portuguese players to withdraw any existing funds
A William Hill communication read
“We would like to inform you that following recent regulatory developments in Estonia and Portugal, with effect from June 28th 2015, William Hill will cease to accept business from customers in Estonia and Portugal,”
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your efforts and our joint work together over the past years in the Estonian and Portuguese markets.
“We value your cooperation and contribution and, though William Hill is obliged to cease to accept business from customers in Estonia and Portugal for the time being, we are confident that we will have the opportunity to work together in the future.”
Showing posts with label Estonia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Estonia. Show all posts
June 26, 2015
December 02, 2013
Estonia match-fixing: 11 charged on suspicion of fixing 17 games
Eleven footballers have been charged in Estonia on suspicion of fixing 17 matches, including three in the Europa League, prosecutors said Monday.
Prosecutors said the men were part of a match-fixing conspiracy covering teams in Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine, who allegedly agreed to fix results and signed players based on their willingness to fix games.
“The teams looked for individuals who were ready to play in such a way that that events took place in a predetermined way, or that the desired results was achieved,” Estonia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a website statement.
The 11 players allegedly earned a total of over 108,000 euros ($146,000) from match-fixing between June 2011 and November 2012.
There was no word on which particular matches were fixed, and the players were identified only by their first names and ages. As well as the three Europa League games, prosecutors said 12 Estonian league games were fixed, as were one game in the Estonian Cup and Lithuanian league.
Prosecutors said the men were part of a match-fixing conspiracy covering teams in Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine, who allegedly agreed to fix results and signed players based on their willingness to fix games.
“The teams looked for individuals who were ready to play in such a way that that events took place in a predetermined way, or that the desired results was achieved,” Estonia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a website statement.
The 11 players allegedly earned a total of over 108,000 euros ($146,000) from match-fixing between June 2011 and November 2012.
There was no word on which particular matches were fixed, and the players were identified only by their first names and ages. As well as the three Europa League games, prosecutors said 12 Estonian league games were fixed, as were one game in the Estonian Cup and Lithuanian league.
June 24, 2013
Belgium, Bulgaria add names to online gambling blacklists
The itchy trigger fingers of the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) have added five new names to its online gambling blacklist, including Gibraltar-licensed BetVictor, whose CEO Michael Carlton co-authored a public letter last November expressing his disdain for Belgium’s protectionist online gambling stance. The BGC also blackballed two UK-registered firms – Casino GrandLuxe and MonaCasino – as well as two Curaçao-licensed outfits, City Club Casino and RoyalCasino. The additions bring the BGC’s naughty list to a total of 74 enemies of the state.
That’s 54 more names than on the first blacklist drawn up by the Bulgarian State Gambling Commission. Among the 20 names thus tarred and feathered are the familiar faces of 888, Bet365, Betfair, Befred, Ladbrokes, Sportingbet and Unibet. Bulgaria first announced plans to IP-block unlicensed gambling sites last year, with the digital firewall scheduled to go up this March. The move was supposed to precede the introduction of a regulated online gambling regime, but while the necessary legislation has been published, it has yet to be officially enacted.
In less punitive regulatory news, the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has inked an info-sharing agreement with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, which regulates gambling and lottery activity in the Baltic country. The goal of the agreement is to improve regulatory standards in both online and land-based gaming sectors to better protect consumers and to create efficiencies for businesses.
Not to be outdone, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has teamed up with Spectrum Gaming Group to help regulatory agencies craft online gambling regulations. Andre Wilsenach, exec director of the AGCC, says the new Alderney Spectrum eGaming Advisors (ASeGA) will provide “an opportunity to progress common best practice standards of operation.” Spectrum Gaming managing director Michael Pollock called the joint venture a “perfect fit between an experienced, respected regulatory agency and a private firm that already serves tribal, state and national governments around the world.” ASeGA will also provide due-diligence and background investigations to determine a licensee’s suitability to operate in a given jurisdiction.
That’s 54 more names than on the first blacklist drawn up by the Bulgarian State Gambling Commission. Among the 20 names thus tarred and feathered are the familiar faces of 888, Bet365, Betfair, Befred, Ladbrokes, Sportingbet and Unibet. Bulgaria first announced plans to IP-block unlicensed gambling sites last year, with the digital firewall scheduled to go up this March. The move was supposed to precede the introduction of a regulated online gambling regime, but while the necessary legislation has been published, it has yet to be officially enacted.
In less punitive regulatory news, the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has inked an info-sharing agreement with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, which regulates gambling and lottery activity in the Baltic country. The goal of the agreement is to improve regulatory standards in both online and land-based gaming sectors to better protect consumers and to create efficiencies for businesses.
Not to be outdone, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has teamed up with Spectrum Gaming Group to help regulatory agencies craft online gambling regulations. Andre Wilsenach, exec director of the AGCC, says the new Alderney Spectrum eGaming Advisors (ASeGA) will provide “an opportunity to progress common best practice standards of operation.” Spectrum Gaming managing director Michael Pollock called the joint venture a “perfect fit between an experienced, respected regulatory agency and a private firm that already serves tribal, state and national governments around the world.” ASeGA will also provide due-diligence and background investigations to determine a licensee’s suitability to operate in a given jurisdiction.
April 15, 2010
Estonia begins blocking online casinos
As part of a two-tier strategy designed to implement its new Gambling Act, the small Baltic nation of Estonia has started blocking access to leading online casino and poker sites including PartyPoker.com and PokerStars.com.
The country legalised online gambling earlier this year but stipulated that players could only take part at sites licensed in the nation such as Olympic-Online.com, which is owned by Estonian land-based casino operator Olympic Entertainment Group and offers a range of some 150 games in English and Russian.
The Estonian Tax And Custom Board subsequently drew up a list of around 200 domain names associated with online gambling and stipulated that local Internet service providers block services from these sites or face a fine of around $15,600. Some of the world’s largest and most popular online casinos including Unibet.com, FullTiltPoker.com, Bwin.com, PokerStars.com and PartyPoker.com are included on this register and the move has drawn criticism from the European Commission.
Playtech-powered Olympic-Online.com is the only online casino to have been authorised for Estonian players so far while authorities claim that the nation’s moves are only temporary as it comes to terms with precisely how to run a successful and legitimate virtual gaming operation.
“The possibility that online poker gaming could be restricted is not good news for us,” said Estonian professional poker player Imre Leibold.
“I believe and hope that the whole affair is resolved and that there will be several reasonable gaming locations on the market. However, if things get tough, one may have to consider moving residence or start working abroad like Estonian builders in Finland.”
The country legalised online gambling earlier this year but stipulated that players could only take part at sites licensed in the nation such as Olympic-Online.com, which is owned by Estonian land-based casino operator Olympic Entertainment Group and offers a range of some 150 games in English and Russian.
The Estonian Tax And Custom Board subsequently drew up a list of around 200 domain names associated with online gambling and stipulated that local Internet service providers block services from these sites or face a fine of around $15,600. Some of the world’s largest and most popular online casinos including Unibet.com, FullTiltPoker.com, Bwin.com, PokerStars.com and PartyPoker.com are included on this register and the move has drawn criticism from the European Commission.
Playtech-powered Olympic-Online.com is the only online casino to have been authorised for Estonian players so far while authorities claim that the nation’s moves are only temporary as it comes to terms with precisely how to run a successful and legitimate virtual gaming operation.
“The possibility that online poker gaming could be restricted is not good news for us,” said Estonian professional poker player Imre Leibold.
“I believe and hope that the whole affair is resolved and that there will be several reasonable gaming locations on the market. However, if things get tough, one may have to consider moving residence or start working abroad like Estonian builders in Finland.”
January 14, 2010
Estonians rejoice as online gambling legalized
A major change has just been made to Estonian gambling laws that makes it legal for players to gamble online. The impetus for the change is financial – Estonia is going to be entering the euro zone next year, and sees the taxation of online gambling operators as an outstanding potential for extra income. Estonia is currently experiencing one of the worst recessions in the EU, and the liberalization of gambling is expected to help the nation’s financial situation considerably.
The change is being made in two steps. First, effective immediately, players can begin using locally-hosted and licensed online gambling sites in Estonia. The next stage, which sees the opening of Estonia’s internet gambling industry to foreign operators, will not come into effect until 2011. This will give the regulatory bodies time to sort out licensing with foreign operators that are willing and able to comply with Estonia’s regulatory requirements. These requirements are still being drafted, but the country has made it clear that they will be precise, with rules designed to prevent corruption and money laundering.
Rumors of investments are already beginning to float around. Gambling operators may view Estonia as a gateway for the entire Baltic market. Estonia has recently seen a huge increase in advertising campaigns coming from foreign operators; now it seems these will really begin to pay off.
The Olympic Group is among the first to receive a local license. The group will be offering a Playtech-powered casino to Estonian players. Playtech Executive Manager Mor Weizer said, “We are truly glad of this opportunity to start our partnership with Olympic as the leading casino entertainment provider in Central and Eastern Europe.”
The decision to open up Estonia’s internet gambling industry comes in on the heels of the very successful Baltic Poker Festival.
The change is being made in two steps. First, effective immediately, players can begin using locally-hosted and licensed online gambling sites in Estonia. The next stage, which sees the opening of Estonia’s internet gambling industry to foreign operators, will not come into effect until 2011. This will give the regulatory bodies time to sort out licensing with foreign operators that are willing and able to comply with Estonia’s regulatory requirements. These requirements are still being drafted, but the country has made it clear that they will be precise, with rules designed to prevent corruption and money laundering.
Rumors of investments are already beginning to float around. Gambling operators may view Estonia as a gateway for the entire Baltic market. Estonia has recently seen a huge increase in advertising campaigns coming from foreign operators; now it seems these will really begin to pay off.
The Olympic Group is among the first to receive a local license. The group will be offering a Playtech-powered casino to Estonian players. Playtech Executive Manager Mor Weizer said, “We are truly glad of this opportunity to start our partnership with Olympic as the leading casino entertainment provider in Central and Eastern Europe.”
The decision to open up Estonia’s internet gambling industry comes in on the heels of the very successful Baltic Poker Festival.
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