Switzerland has formally issued its initial online gambling licenses to four local casino operators and their online technology partners.
The article Switzerland problems first four online gaming permits to local casinos appeared initially on CalvinAyre.com.
There are still a few hurdles before these first four licensees can launch their online operations, as the ESBK should certify the software of every operator’s respective online games.
On Friday, Switzerland’s Federal Council rubber-stamped their acceptance of four casinos’ online gambling permits. The licenses were previously approved by the Federal Gaming Commission (ESBK) ahead of the July 1 launch of the country’s regulated online industry.
There are 21 accredited casinos in Switzerland, a few of which are still awaiting their own permit approval, while others are still taking a wait-and-see approach. This latter strategy is folly, according to Grand Casino Baden CFO Marcel Tobler, who told attendees at this week’s Gaming in Holland conference that operators that pass up this”once in a lifetime chance” would repent not staking out an early claim for the loyalties of Switzerland’s internet gamblers.
Grand Casino Baden will launch online under its Jackpots.ch brand, which has for years operated as a free-play website . The Pfäffikon venue has a deal with Playtech while the Lucerne casino will operate under its own mycasino brand.
Switzerland’s new gaming legislation technically took effect on January 1 but the country’s internet service providers won’t start blocking internationally licensed gambling sites until July 1. (For the record, the ISPs aren’t too delighted about being forced to carry out additional work with no state kicking in certain francs to pay their costs.)
The four casinos therefore honored were the Grand Casino Baden and its sister venue Grand Casino Davos, as well as Grand Casino Lucerne along with the Swiss Casinos group’s Pfäffikon venue.
