TROUBLE IN TURKEY

9 March 2007

Foreign gambling ban included in new law

It looks as if Austrian public company bwin was on the money last week when it expressed concern over the development of new Turkish anti-gambling laws.

The Turks have subsequently passed a law that forbids the offering of online gambling services by any *unauthorised* domestic or foreign company to citizens in Turkey. With the not-quite-snappy title (perhaps something is lost in the translation!) of “Law for amending certain articles of the law on bookmaking organisation concerning football contests”, the new legislation threatens to impose severe fines and up to between two and five years imprisonment to "anyone involved in enabling access, promotion or operation of sites offering egaming products to Turkish nationals."

Legal eagles are interpreting the new law as a significant nail in the coffin of online gambling in the country, although the more optimistic observers point out that banning foeign companies may not be a good fit for Turkey's upcoming membership of the European Union with its policed of open borders for trade and services between EU members.

Another and more positive interpretation is that the wording of the law suggests that the Turks may be prepared to accept and license online gambling for suitable sites.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa

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