Plans for new online gaming regulations in the island nation of Cyprus will be delayed as the European Commission waits for an opinion on the rules from Malta—a major licensor of online gambling sites that serve European players.
The Commission is evaluating the new regulations, but allowing Malta and other EU countries to weigh in. Malta has asked for and received a three-month extension to review the proposed regulations and determine if the draft rules create barriers to free movement of goods and services in violation of the European Union.
Cyprus has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of its online gambling rules that it says will remedy “several earlier infringements with the 2012 law identified by the EC, including one related to local ISPs’ obligations in relation to blacklisting and website blocking.”
The rules also set a 10 percent tax on net revenue generated in the country, plus a further levy of 1 percent of net revenue towards responsible gambling initiatives and 2 percent to support sporting organizations in the country.
