Estonia legalizes online gambling

[The Buzz]

Europe has made a lot of headlines within the last few months, with countries like France and Switzerland debating on the liberalization of online gambling. Another EU country decided to legalize the practice this week.

Estonia, looking to raise some much needed revenue, has decided to legalize online gambling. There is a catch, at least for this year.

From the Baltic Times:

The Estonian Free Press reported that people would be allowed to use Estonia-based online gaming companies through 2010, and that as of 2011 the market would be open to everyone.

[lauferb]

thanks for this post, I live in Estonia and also in the online gaming industry and am following this issue since it's definitely interesting

I know just from friends that many people in Estonia like to play online (especially poker)

basically I also know that this issue is a bit problematic and raised some debates here especially since there are claims that the law is contradicting other laws that are European laws of free trade

anyway, I'd appreciate it if you can give more information about this and possibly links to reliable sources

thanks

[Shaun O'neill]

This is sick and a whole lot of BULLsh~T.

So yes it is legal but this is the problem you have to have an Estonian licence as the do not acknowledge a licence from any other jurisdiction, for example we have an EU Maltese licence but that is not good enough for the Estonian goverment as they can not take.

Now we have issues try to get an Estonian licence as they would like to have access to each server hosting player info, so that means we have get access to the servers of the following companies:

Microgaming
Net Ent
Jade Stone
and several other, no do you think is going to happen!!!!

Not a chance, so we had to relocate the operations of our company to Malta.

This is happening accross Europe check out Poland.

Shaun

[Anthony]

The Estonian Free Press reported that people would be allowed to use Estonia-based online gaming companies through 2010, and that as of 2011 the market would be open to everyone.

Shaun,

Do you think this statement is true or more BS?

[lauferb]

so what's going to happen with netent operators in Estonia?
I think that estonia is going to block access to all casinos that are not legal according to the new law

what will happen with triobet? unibet? betsafe?

[Shaun O'neill]

Triobet will now operate outside Estonia and we are working with the Estonian goverment to work a way around it.

Shaun

so what's going to happen with netent operators in Estonia?
I think that estonia is going to block access to all casinos that are not legal according to the new law

what will happen with triobet? unibet? betsafe?

[Shaun O'neill]

I think it is 100% true if you can give the goverment access to the server that hosts player info.

Shaun

Shaun,

Do you think this statement is true or more BS?

[lauferb]

but doesn't the new law require that the server will be located in Estonia?

[Shaun O'neill]

Either that or the Etsonian goverment must have access to it.

Shaun

but doesn't the new law require that the server will be located in Estonia?

[lauferb]

OK, this issue is very disturbing to me actually... basically I'm just affiliate but want to know what's going on,
for example, which operators are now legal to play in Estonia?

I don't want to break laws here and affiliate operators that are not legal

also I don't know if affiliating operators that are not legal is legal?

I know that marketing is not legal but affiliation is not exactly marketing... so I really am trying to understand... If someone can give me inputs here... I'd appreciate it

[Shaun O'neill]

PLease do not quote me on this but it is my understanding that any operator that accepts Estonian traffic should have an Estonian gaming licence as an affiliate you are not doing anything wrong.


Shaun

OK, this issue is very disturbing to me actually... basically I'm just affiliate but want to know what's going on,
for example, which operators are now legal to play in Estonia?

I don't want to break laws here and affiliate operators that are not legal

also I don't know if affiliating operators that are not legal is legal?

I know that marketing is not legal but affiliation is not exactly marketing... so I really am trying to understand... If someone can give me inputs here... I'd appreciate it

[Caruso]

I have interests in Estonia. I hope introducing online gambling isn't going to totally f**k them up. Last thing I want.

[Shaun O'neill]

Depends what they are!!!

Shaun

I have interests in Estonia. I hope introducing online gambling isn't going to totally f**k them up. Last thing I want.

[Caruso]

I meant, I hope it won't f**k up the Estonians.

Online gambling is good for governments (tax), bad for punters. Estonia's had it worse than most the last two years.

[Rakeback]

PLease do not quote me on this but it is my understanding that any operator that accepts Estonian traffic should have an Estonian gaming licence as an affiliate you are not doing anything wrong.

Nope. It is not legal for affiliates to market online gambling in Estonia anymore. In fact, has not been for half a year.

The new Gambling Act that came in to force from start of this year only defines who is a gambling operator and their licensing, but advertising of remote gambling is regulated in the Advertising Act that was revised in July 2009. The Advertising Act says that only licensed gambling operators are allowed to advertise gambling on their own websites, so in effect it can be seen that remote gambling advertising on unlicensed affiliate websites is not legal. Whether the affiliate advertises an Estonian licensed operator or not.

I'd advice any Estonian based affiliate to seriously consider relocating outside of Estonia to comply with the new laws. Rakeback.com is doing so.

[Seothug]

actually it is a gray area.
even if you promote pokerstars and full tilt which are open for American players you are actually partner to a felony. the day that pokernews and pokerlisting will get a lawsuit we will know that the usa govarment has had enough of this affiliate gray area. in the meantime estonia sounds nice, i wonder what language are the speaking and how they serfing behaviour.

[Shaun O'neill]

I am sorry but what you have just written is 100% wrong.

As an affiliate you are not breaking any laws what so ever, the law passed was aimed at the transfer of funds, to date no gaming company has been indicted for accepting US players, companies have been indicted for other crimes and not accepting US players.

In Estonia they speak Estonian also Russian is widely spoken.

Shaun

actually it is a gray area.
even if you promote pokerstars and full tilt which are open for American players you are actually partner to a felony. the day that pokernews and pokerlisting will get a lawsuit we will know that the usa govarment has had enough of this affiliate gray area. in the meantime estonia sounds nice, i wonder what language are the speaking and how they serfing behaviour.

[Seothug]

Hi Shaun.
i admire your Passion but as a part of a very big affiliate company i can tell you that our lawyers are constantly checking this issue .
specially after that fin that pokerstars got couple of months before.
we all want to believe that we can get away with it but no one can assure us. not even my layers that someday you want get a suppressing letter from the usa government. in the end of the day the minuet you get money from pokerstars you are getting money from usa gamblers. it is not that i am saying that we wont promote in usa because we are affiliate bustersd but it is a point you need to aways be prepare to. i just hope that they will go after ESPN before they willgo for us, they are the biggest poker media affiliate machine.

[Shaun O'neill]

I understand what you are saying but no law to date has been passed to say that accepting US is a crime, and no law has been passed to say that promoting US rooms means you are breaking laws..

Shaun

Hi Shaun.
i admire your Passion but as a part of a very big affiliate company i can tell you that our lawyers are constantly checking this issue .
specially after that fin that pokerstars got couple of months before.
we all want to believe that we can get away with it but no one can assure us. not even my layers that someday you want get a suppressing letter from the usa government. in the end of the day the minuet you get money from pokerstars you are getting money from usa gamblers. it is not that i am saying that we wont promote in usa because we are affiliate bustersd but it is a point you need to aways be prepare to. i just hope that they will go after ESPN before they willgo for us, they are the biggest poker media affiliate machine.

[nitro]

Just imagine the outcry if the accounts of all estonians would be suspened throughout the industry for a while if their goverment comes up with ideas like this. Then one could start to talk to the people in charge. But the industry has to be able to act as whole to accomplish this kind of things.