iGaming Business – The Swiss Federal Government has published the first draft of a new bill that will enable regulated online gambling in the country for the first time.
The Pokerfuse.com website reports that the bill, which was introduced last week, will allow land-based casinos in Switzerland to use their licences to also operate an internet gambling service.
The draft gambling bill does not contain any reference to overseas operators and whether such companies will be allowed to enter the Swiss online gaming market.
The bill, which is now out for consultation until August 20, 2014, states that all online gambling winnings will be tax-free while small poker tournaments will be allowed outside land-based casinos under certain restrictions that are yet to be clearly defined.
Under the draft bill, the Swiss Federal Government plans to leave licensing policies down to the country’s 26 cantons, but did include the creation of a new intro-national body to “institutionalise the exchange of ideas and cooperation between the authorities of the Confederation and the cantons”.
