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The Right2bet World Cup Report, published last week, has evoked a strong reaction across the online gambling industry, with consumers, consumer groups and operators all coming forward to comment on the report's findings.

The report exclusively revealed that European gambling monopolies offered their customers, on average, 32% worse odds during the World Cup than private and licensed betting operators, and the response across Europe has been one of shock and dismay.

Consumers across Europe contacted Right2bet to voice their reaction to the report.

Julien Beaudet in France said: "As a French player I now feel extremely limited and frustrated with regards to my playing experience. Consumers have been totally denigrated by the supposed French 'liberalisation' and it is totally unfair."

David Atkins of Amsterdam commented: "It never ceases to amaze me how monopolies like De Lotto get away with such blatant exploitation of customers.  This report shows first-hand how much people in the Netherlands and many other EU countries are losing out and I hope it acts as a catalyst to drive the change we need to enable free and fair access to online private operators."

Luca Pappalardo, Chairman of Italian Consumer group ACOGI, said: "We strongly agree with and applaud the output of this report. Even in Member States like Italy where there is no monopoly, the high burdens and barriers to entry make it almost impossible for many operators and as a result, Italian consumers are punished."

Martin Arendts, a prominent online gambling lawyer in Germany, told Right2bet: "A level playing field between state operators and licensed private operators would give customers freedom of choice and would prohibit unfair monopoly gains. With fair competition customers would get a far better value for their money."

Operators too were quick to comment on the report:

Ciaran O'Brien, Head of PR at Ladbrokes commented: "Consumer freedom and choice is at the heart of fundamental EU principles, yet as the Right2bet report shows, millions of Europeans are being denied the choice and the value that healthy competition provides. We urge the Commission to study the findings of the report and do more to rectify the unjust balance that exists between EU citizens living within different Member States."

Tim Phillips, Director of European Public Affairs at Betfair said: "An open and fairly regulated European gambling market is the best way of ensuring that all European consumers are getting the best value in a safe and transparent online environment. The Right2bet report shows quite clearly that consumers are the ultimate losers in Member States where gambling monopolies exist."
 
Right2bet spokesman Mike Robb was delighted with the widespread appreciation of the report.  He said: "I am pleased that the startling results of the report have reached individuals and groups within the online gambling world across Europe. We now urge the European Commission to study the findings and do more to rectify an unjust situation that is to the detriment of millions of European consumers."

Right2bet supporters in Bulgaria have been voicing their contempt for proposed new gambling legislation in the country.  The legislation, which is now in an open consultation phase, flies in the face of EU single market laws and is seen by many Right2bet supporters as unworkable.

Some of the plans being discussed include making all online gaming providers set up an office in each of the country's 28 provinces and prohibiting all advertising.  Much of the new law is unworkable for any cost-effective company looking to operate, aside from the state-owned monopolies.  Consequently, it aims to illegally deprive punters of their chosen betting operator.

"I have been a recreational poker player for the past three years", said one Bulgarian Right2bet supporter.  "There are 50,000 more Bulgarian citizens like me whose hobby is being highly jeopardized by this new law.  They want to filter every player's internet traffic and monitor it to make sure no one tries to play on an unapproved site, which is a clear violation of privacy matters and human rights."

Right2bet is getting behind Bulgarian customers and encouraging them to voice their concerns.  Some large poker affiliates in Bulgaria have already come out en masse to battle the proposals.

The key messages for the campaign are as follows:

• It's against EU law - according to Article 56 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, EU citizens are entitled to use cross border services.
 
• It's unworkable - online gaming providers will be made to set up at least one gaming point within each of the 28 provinces.  Why does this matter if you're betting online?

• Control advertising, don't ban it - a complete ban on advertising is unnecessarily restrictive

• Where's the social responsibility? - Where are the Bulgarian Governments' plans on age verification, fraud protection and gambling education, which are crucial to EU law?

If you would like to get involved and fight the Government on this ill thought out law please drop us an email or comment in the Rant Box on the right2bet homepage.

And most of all, sign the petition!
 

Le project de loi concernant les jeux en ligne a été adopté par l'Assemblée Nationale, ne tenant aucunement compte de sa compatibilité avec les lois Européennes ; et il ne l'est clairement pas.

Le projet de loi a été adopté avec 299 voix contre 233 et devrait entrer en application dans les 2 semaines à venir.

Cette reforme a été attaquée de toutes parts ainsi que par de nombreux membres de l'association right2bet. Pourquoi ? Tout simplement parce que cette réforme n'en est pas vraiment une et elle ne vise qu'à renforcer le monopole de sociétés telles que le Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) et la Française des Jeux (FDJ).

Les autorités françaises ont toujours insisté pour avoir cette loi adopte avant le début de la Coupe du Monde de football cet été, et cela nous a conduit a une situation grotesque ou seuls les monopoles d'Etat (PMU et FDJ) seront légalement capable d'accepter les paris relatifs à cet événement. En effet, les operateurs prives n'auront pas le temps matériel de réunir tous les documents nécessaires a l'obtention d'une licence.

La Remote Gambling Association, qui représente de nombreux operateurs privés européens, mentionne un système vicié et tout particulièrement avec les paris sportifs en ligne. Remarquez, c'est le résultat auquel les autorités françaises voulaient arriver, donc nous ne devrions pas être surpris.

Ce projet de loi rend très difficile pour un operateur ayant une licence dans la Communauté Européenne et domicilié en dehors du territoire français de mener une activité profitable. Une rumeur fait état du fait que de nombreuses sociétés devront cesser d'offrir leurs services sur le territoire français afin d'être en accord avec la nouvelle loi, renforçant le manque de choix, qualité et sécurité qui existe actuellement.

Une étude menée durant les derniers mois par right2bet a démontrée que les consommateurs français ont été spoliés. En effet après 18 mois d'étude, il apparait qu'un consommateur aurait gagne 399.30€ après avoir placé un pari de 10€ par semaine sur le vainqueur d'un match de football important avec l'operateur privé proposant les meilleures offres. En plaçant les mêmes paris avec la Française des Jeux (FDJ), les gains auraient été de 305.50€ maximum.

Oui, les consommateurs français vont continuer à être victimes de cette loi. Ils vont continuer à recevoir en moyenne 24% de gains en moins que les autres consommateurs européens ayant accès au libre marché.

Right2bet est bien décidé à faire quelque chose a ce sujet. Signez notre pétition des aujourd'hui et faites entendre votre voix.

We are sorry to report yet more bad news.  French reform of online betting passed the country's National Assembly yesterday, ignoring any concerns about whether or not it will be compatible with EU law, which it clearly is not.

The legislation was passed by 299-233 votes and should become law within the next two weeks.

The reforms have come under attack from a wide-range of sources, none more so than here at right2bet and the many members we represent.  Why?  Because this is not reform, it is an attempt to look like reform whilst continuing to shore up the state monopolies and domestic providers, most notably the Pari-Mutual Urbain (PMU) and Francaise des Jeux (FDJ).

It has always been the aim of the French authorities to force reform through in time for the Football World Cup this summer, and doing so has led to a farcical situation whereby only the state monopolies will be legally allowed to accept bets on the tournament as there is not enough time for private operators to apply for a licence.

The Remote Gambling Association, a group that represents many of the European Union's private operators, said the system that has been passed is 'seriously flawed', particularly with sports betting.  Mind you, that was exactly what the French authorities set out to achieve, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised.

The reform makes it extremely difficult for licensed EU operators based outside French borders to operate at a profit.  It is rumoured that many companies will be forced to cease offering any services to French citizens in order to comply with the law, meaning the lack of choice, value and protection that those based in France currently experience will only continue.

Our very own right2bet betting challenge has shown over the past few months that French consumers are getting robbed of bigger odds and better value.  After 18 weeks of the challenge, you would have made €399.30 if you had placed €10/week on the winner of a big football match with the best-priced private operator.  Had you made exactly the same bet with FDJ, you would be a meagre €305.50 better off.

Yes, French consumers will continue to be the victim in this way.  They will continue to receive 24% less winnings than other EU citizens who have access to the benefits the free market offers.

Right2bet wants to do something about this.  Click here to sign our petition today and add your voice to the cause.

In our weekly blog on gambling portal GX, we have put the situation in The Netherlands in focus.

In a nutshell, it's a shameful situation where Dutch citizens are being denied the considerable benefits of the private sector whilst the government backs a discriminatory regime through De Lotto, the sports betting monopoly.

Read the full article here on GX.

And, of course, if you've not already done so be sure to sign the right2bet petition, follow us on Twitter and tell all your friends!

The right2bet weekly blog launched on the GX website last week, and the second post is now online.

In this week's blog for GX we spoke about the Real Madrid v Lyon shirt sponsor debacle from a couple of weeks ago, when Lyon were banned from wearing BetClic on their shirts but Madrid were allowed to wear bwin.  It was a crazy situation and one that highlights the madness around EU betting regulations more than most in recent times.

To read that latest post click here.

And if you've not done so yet, please sign the petition, tell your friends about the campaign, join our group on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  Then use all those channels to spread the word!

This weekend the betting challenge went (in mind not body, unfortunately) to sunny Spain for a look at the Barcelona v Valencia match-up.

It was a huge game for Barca, who had to win to keep up with Real Madrid.  It's no surprise, therefore, that the Catalan giants raised their game and came away with a 3-0 victory against third-placed Valencia, who can now definitely forget any hope of a top two finish.

It was a short-odds victory this week, but yet again we see you, the betting public, losing out as a result of archaic and protectionist laws.  Here's the result in numbers:

Odds on a Barca win:
FDJ (Fra): 1.35
De Lotto (Ned): 1.25
Svenska Spel (Swe): 1.38
Danske Spil (Den): 1.35
Lotto Bayern (Ger): 1.35
Best Private Operator: 1.42

Profit on a €10 bet on a draw:
FDJ: €3.50
De Lotto: €2.50
Svenska Spel: €3.80
Danske Spil: €3.50
Lotto Bayern: €3.50
Best Private Operator: €4.20

Profit From Challenge So Far:

(After 17 Weeks)
FDJ: €290.50
De Lotto: €294.50
Best Private Operator: €383.70

(After 12 Weeks)

Svenska Spel: €225.10
Danske Spil: €252
Lotto Bayern: €227
Best Private Operator: €308.70

So not a massive difference this week as Barcelona were always fancied to come away from this one with a vicotyr, by both monopolies and private operators alike.

One obvious point this weekend is The Netherlands, where De Lotto shows how out of touch it is with the rest of Europe's monopolies, let alone the private operators, offering a measly 1.25, compared with 1.35 from the next-worst monopoly and 1.42 from the private sector.

Sign our petition today, and add your name to the fight for freedom of choice in the EU. We need your support and with it, we're confident of making our voices heard.

Good news from Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko has stated publicly his want for a regulated gambling industry.  Whilst it's not clear this definitely covers the online industry as well as land-based operators, we're certainly pleased with the noises coming our way.

The catalyst seems to be the need to find a much-needed boost for the economy and a regulated gambling industry with EU operators paying tax locally an obvious move to take.

The President also pointed to the fact that a regualted offline industry will create jobs, boost tourism and bring much-needed foreign investment in the country.

Perhaps the most pleasing part of Lukashenko's statement is his belief that prohibition produces "nothing but harm", and that forcing gambling underground in this way makes it open to criminal influences.

Great to see a politician seeing the light and not being afraid to say it.  In an open and regulated betting market, consumers get the choice, value and protection they need.  In countries with a state-sanctioned monopoly, consumers are forced to look for these benefits with unregulated offshore operators, offering no protections whatsoever.

Just look at the right2bet betting challenge.  After 17 weeks of betting, you would have made 132% more money with the best-priced private operator than the French FDJ, or 130% more than De Lotto in The Netherlands.  Why?  Odds are vastly reduced and consumers are not getting the value the private sector offers.

It's baffling not more politicians look at this simple fact and see why the current situation in so many territories around the EU is unsustainable and good for nobody.  Maybe a move by the Belarusians will spark the revolt?  We can but hope.

The Netherlands is a country viewed round the world as one of fun-loving people, free to love life and do whatever they want to enjoy themselves.  Have a glance at any tourist guide book showing you the sights, sounds and smells of Amsterdam and you'll see what I mean.  It's a country that the average passer-by would see as a place where choice is at the forefront of life.  When it comes to betting, however, all the stereotypes disappear and the Dutch authorieis are determined to make sure choice is eliminated and the fun is stopped.

The Dutch betting regime is monopolised, with licences awarded to De Lotto for sports betting and Scientific Games for horse racing.  Despite the fact that there is a licensing regime in place, operators not based in The Netherlands cannot apply for one which gives it the same rights as a Dutch operator. This is because the Dutch operate a one licence system - once that licence has been awarded then other gaming operators are not allowed to compete.

The licence award procedure is totally unfair and lacks transparency.  The temporary licences are awarded to the same operators continually, excluding (without any objective justification) private operators from elsewhere in the EU who are prepared to comply with all requirements.

The question of the legality of the Dutch licensing system is presently being looked at by the European Court of Justice. It must be noted that the ECJ decided in a similar case that the automatic renewal of horse race betting concessions without inviting any competing bids violates European law.

It doesn't take more than a quick look at De Lotto's online website (www.toto.nl)
to see how primative it is and, as a result, what Dutch consumers are
missing out on a market where they have access to the innovative, competitive and value-driven services of
multiple operators.  It is the competition between these companies that drives the best services, products, prices and, ultimately, choice that consumers in open and regulated markets are already enjoying.

Being an organisation that focuses on providing online sports betting services to Dutch citizens, it seems somewhat shameful that De Lotto closed its football betting early during Euro 2008 due to fear of losing money.  Never more has it been evident that monopolies don't have the interests of consumers at heart than by denying them the chance to bet on the world's second biggest international football event.

They also claim that foreign operators are merely seeking to increase profits, despite mentioning growing revenues as a major achievement in their annual reports - this just doesn not add up.  Monopolies cannot say one thing against private operators while they practise that very philosophy themselves.  Whilst it self evident that private operators are in existence to be run like any normal profit-making business, it is clearly to the detriment of consumers to have a monopoly that is in it to maximise revenues whilst at the same time taking away the choice that consumers so deserve.

Only sports betting, including horse racing, and licensed lotteries can legally be played online in The Netherlands, even though the fact remains that under EU law you have the right to bet on any website in the EU.

All being said, the real losers from the situation in The Netherlands are Dutch citizens.  There is a self-evident interest from operators in the wider EU gambling industry to be allowed to operate in the country, but at the same time there is clear and genuine benefit to Dutch consumers were this the case.

Sign the petition today!!  Click here!