William Hill turns its back on the Third World
There’s been a change to the accepted jurisdictions policy at William Hill, and its a rather large one, by area if not market size.
A lazy 55 countries have been added to the list of those already not accepted. A notification today from William Hill read,
“Due to regulatory reasons, customers from the following countries will no longer be able to register or place a bet on any William Hill product from 26th March, 2014”
• Afghanistan • Algeria • Anguilla • Bangladesh • Belize • Benin • Botswana • Burkina Faso • Cambodia • Cameroon • Cape Verde Islands • Central African Republic • Chad • Djibouti • Equatorial Guinea • Ethiopia • Gabon • Gambia • Greenland | • Guinea • Guinea-Bissau • Haiti • Laos • Lesotho • Liberia • Madagascar • Malawi • Maldives • Mali • Mauritania • Mongolia • Montserrat • Morocco • Mozambique • Nepal • Netherland Antilles • Niger | • Norfolk Island • Rwanda • Saint Vincent And The Grenadines • Samoa • Sao Tome and Principe • Saudi Arabia • Solomon Islands • Somalia • South Africa • Surinam • Swaziland • Thailand • Togo • Tonga • Uganda • Uruguay • Vanuatu • Yemen |
As for what ‘regulatory reasons‘ means, your guess is as good as mine although I am reasonably confident it has more to do with a company internal policy shift than any laws or regulations changing in any of the countries listed.
Unless of course there’s been a sudden switch in focus across the third world from issues like infant mortality, controlling preventable disease, availability of food, water and basic sanitation etc, to that other pressing concern…enacting strict Internet gambling legislation before the end of March 2014.
Africa seems to have been the hardest continent hit by the change with the door being closed on a bunch of countries, some of which you probably didn’t even know existed. Be honest: Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe? By the way, São Tomé and Príncipe is one country not two. As if they don’t have enough to deal with, most Africans (unless they live in Western Sahara or a couple of other places) will no longer be able to play at the biggest Evolution Gaming private live casino.
Can’t see the this change causing a plunge in the share price of William Hill.
Existing account holders in these countries may continue to withdraw their funds after 26 March despite not being able to place a bet.
Looks like this decision could have a lot to do with the UK Gambling Commission’s recently released guidance on the new iGaming laws coming into effect later this year. Whether and to what extent an operator has participated in grey or black markets will be a consideration in assessing their integrity and suitability for local license.
Bit more on this at http://www.livedealer.org/blog/2014/04/betfair-closes-to-russian-players/