In January, the initiative committee opposing the new gambling law received the necessary signatures to spark a referendum. The committee is particularly against network bans which might become imposed against legal foreign gambling providers. Among the opponents are the big Swiss ICT associations. In their view, the barriers which could be set up as a result of the new law are disproportionate and easy to get around.
The Federal Council held a media conference concerning its position on the referendum. The new law, if passed, will also enforce the gaming licensing and online controls system.
The Federal Council, Parliament and the Cantons originally jointly agreed and voted in the new law governing real money gaming.
In the opinion of Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga, the new law takes into account the changes brought about by digitization. She said that “(C)ompanies that offer such unauthorized gambling on the Internet do not pay for the common good, nor do they have to do anything to prevent gambling addiction, fraud or money laundering.”
Full article: IT-Markt (German)
