The 10 of June happened an overwhelmingly approve legislation via a referendum which intends to ban foreign online gambling operators from being able to offer their services to players in the European nation.
“Voters prefer to continue the current policy, only allowing gambling under restrictions,” Swiss Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga (pictured).
According to the center-right Christian Democratic People’s Party, they backed the campaign looking forward to protecting the estimated $1 billion dollars industry of 21 casinos, as well as its domestic lotteries and sports betting operators, whom contribute towards the public purse every year. READ SO: ONE STEP FURTHER FOR THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY IN SWITZERLAND
The growing influence of foreign online gambling operators could lead to local culture, sports and social organizations losing a major source of funding.
However, their counterpart the FDP and the Liberals, argued that the measure was too restrictive and would not provide adequate protections for those with gambling additions. Providing the domestic casino industry with an unfair commercial advantage and lead to further state censorship of the Internet.
