Licenses and regulatory environment
Licences
Licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner. Remote Gaming Licence No. 50; Remote Sportsbook Licence No. 51. Approved licenced premises at Suite 611, Europort, Gibraltar.
ElectraWorks Limited is therefore subject to the strict supervisory requirements of the government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner as set forth in the Gibraltar Gambling Act. Pursuant to Art 355 (3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the basic European freedoms also apply to Gibraltar.
Further information is available on:
www.gibraltar.gov.gi - Government of Gibraltar
ElectraWorks Limited is meeting not only the requirements set by the Government of Gibraltar but, in the interest of its customers, is also observing the code of conduct drawn up by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA). The EBGA stipulates strict standards in terms of security and responsible handling of themes such as the protection of minors and gaming addiction.
Further information is available on www.egba.eu
Participation in the gaming offer is only allowed to persons 18 years of age or older.
Regulatory environment
In light of the fact that there is no clearly defined legal framework for online gaming in most countries and market access for private operators is restricted in most cases to protect state monopolies, the industry is characterised by a certain degree of legal precariousness.
Europe
Developments in the European online gaming industry are primarily determined by decisions made at the European level. The principles defined by what is termed the Gambelli decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) were further clarified by the ruling in the "Placanica" case and in two gaming-related decisions of the EFTA Court in the spring of 2007. Accordingly, any restriction to gaming which aims to protect public interests (such as consumer protection) must contribute in a "consistent and systematic" manner to its containment. A member state may not invoke the necessity of restricting public access to games of chance if at the same time it encourages its citizens to participate in state-run lotteries, games of chance or bets to the benefit of the public purse. In addition, any restriction of the freedom to provide services must be justified by its suitability to realise the set objective and may not exceed the scope required to achieve this objective.
In the Placanica ruling, the European Court of Justice finally decided that a member state may not impose penal sanctions for failure to meet an administrative formality (national license) if it has rejected or prevented fulfilment of such formality in contravention of community law.
Also with the European Commission, all signs indicate an opening of the gaming sector. Since April 2006, the Commission has instigated infringement proceedings against ten member states because it believes that these states with their national rules are breaking European law. The proceedings against France, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands are currently in their second stage.
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