A majority of voters in Switzerland (72.9%) voted to instate a new Gambling Act in the country which will legalise online casinos. However, the new laws have a double-edge. This act will only allow ‘Swiss-certified casinos’ to operate there. What’s more, this law will force internet service providers (ISPs) to block foreign gambling sites.
According to the BBC, the support of voters was ‘well above rates suggested by early polling’ on Sunday. Of course, there are still a lot of concerns about the new Money Gaming Act. Firstly, there is the issue of blocking websites. Secondly, only land-based casinos in the country will be able to offer gambling services.
These measures could prove to be problematic because it would impact net neutrality in a country that is famous for being neutral. On the other hand, this would serve to help addicts stay away from online gambling options. This is the motivating factor for keeping casinos local.
Critics on ISP Bans
While the new law sounds promising, many critics claim that there are still ways to work around ISP bans. This can be done through virtual private networks (VPNs). However, lawmakers claim that they are aware of this, but feel that the technical limitations haven’t stopped other countries from moving gamblers to legal sites.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there for the Swiss government. They have been criticised for capping taxable winnings to one million francs, thereby reducing revenues.
Voters Reject Financial Law & Olympics Bid
Voters also had to decide whether or not to limit issuing new currency to Switzerland’s central bank. In this case, Swiss citizens ‘overwhelmingly rejected’ the bill. According to reports, those opposing the ‘Sovereign Money Initiative’ felt that it was too radical. This is because Swiss banks manage trillions of dollars in wealth.
Voters in a local referendum also decided against paying for the town of Sion to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games for the fifth time. At least 54% of residents turned down the proposal on Sunday.
Taralynn Engels is a seasoned casino news writer with a passion for keeping her readers up-to-date with the latest happenings in the gambling industry. With over five years of professional writing experience, Taralynn has developed a deep understanding of the casino industry and a knack for delivering engaging and informative content. Aside from her in-depth knowledge of the casino industry, Taralynn possesses excellent writing skills that allow her to craft captivating narratives that keep readers hooked until the last word. Her ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in an accessible manner guarantees that her articles are enjoyed by both seasoned casino enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Recently updated on July 4th, 2018The quarter finals for the 2018 FIFA World Cup are set to begin on Friday, 7 July. This year’s tournament is proving to stay true to years past, with favourite teams already sent home. Spain, Portugal, Argentina and former champions Germany all hoped to get to this point, but lost […]
Recently updated on June 7th, 2018Two All Blacks players, Rieko Ioane and TJ Perenara, and the Black Ferns’ Eloise Blackwell recently played Fortnite on Twitch. These famous players are the first professional athletes to join ‘The Night Squad’, a new show for gaming fans. The All Blacks are set to go head to head with […]
Recently updated on February 2nd, 2019The 150-year-old Thames Racing Club could be closing its doors in the 2019/20 racing season. It is one of the ten horseracing venues around New Zealand that are facing a shutdown. The Thames Racing Club, which celebrated its 150 years of existence last year, hasn’t been able to race its […]
Recently updated on August 24th, 2019The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has suspended BetIndex Gambling adverts on Facebook for showing young football players. The ASA found a paid Facebook advert on Football Index on the 20th of May 2019 that promoted the gambling application. In the advert text, there was mention of Jadon Sancho, a young […]
Recently updated on March 26th, 2019LeoVegas has introduced GoGoCasino to go live in Sweden. The brand was developed using LeoVegas’ existing resources. The plan for the brand is to increase efficiency by using the company’s existing resources. GoGoCasino features top-notch user friendliness design that is alluring and has the best functions. It also has an […]