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11 Apr 2007

It seems that Turkey is yet another country taking the position of the US regarding online casino gaming. According to one of the most respected lawyers in EC law, who attacked Turkey’s solid stance against online casino gaming, this position represents ‘draconian measures against operators as disproportionate and misguided’ concerning constitutional principles of free trade dictated by EU law. The penalty for operators and online casinos companies offering gaming services on the Internet, without authorization from the Turkish government, face imprisonment from two to five years together with draconic fines.

‘The Bill sets up the most authoritarian gaming regime in the Western World. The Bill rests primarily on financial considerations and state purse concerns. The Turkish government wishes to make a pre-emptive strike against private gaming companies who offers considerably more favorable terms for the consumer by way of better odds and higher return rate,” said Dr. Wiklund, the lawyer discussing the online casino situation in Turkey. The Turkish State wishes to adopt an aggressive and expansive policy through the State controlled operators with a view to increasing the State’s income from online casino gaming and land-based gambling.

This policy also allows the private shareholders of the State controlled undertakings to benefit as well. In the EU, according to Wiklund, this would be completely unacceptable. It would be appalling if this will bring about an obstacle for the ongoing integration process between Turkey and Europe. Only time will tell how Turkey will handle the online casino industry. In the meantime, the fight will continue between government officials and online casino operators.