Local news outlet Tages-Anzeiger reported that Grand Casino Baden, Casino Davos, Grand Casino Luzern, and Swiss Casinos’ Casino Pfäffikon have cleared their first step toward obtaining the necessary permit to run online casinos along with their brick-and-mortar operations.
Aside from the ESBK, the Federal Council will need to review the four petitions. It is expected to announce its decision on whether the four land-based casinos should be allowed to proceed with the launch of their digital operations by the end of June.
If the Federal Council greenlights the gambling venues’ applications, they will be able to go live with online gambling as early as July 1. However, the four applicants will also need to have all the games they are planning to offer to online customers certified by the ESBK. That process, too, is expected to be completed by mid-2019.
As many as 21 operators of land-based casinos can apply for an online casino license. However, if the first four applications get the necessary approval, the winning applicants will be able to launch their online gambling operations by mid-2019 and thus gain important competitive advantage in the newly regulated market.
Under new regulations, local Internet service providers will be expected to block all unauthorized online gambling domains that target Swiss gamblers.
Source: GMB / Casino News Daily
