Switzerland votes to block int’l online gambling operators

Switzerland has voted overwhelmingly in favor of (a) allowing local casinos to offer online gambling and (b) blocking the domains of these casinos’ internationally licensed online competitors.

On Sunday, nearly three-quarters (72.9%) of Swiss voters cast their vote in favor of their country’s new gambling law, which was approved last fall but was immediately challenged by the student wing of the Free Democratic Party, who successfully gathered enough petition signatures to force a referendum under Swiss law.

The gambling law, which will now take effect at the start of 2019, grants land-based casinos the right to expand their operations online, while local internet service providers will be required to block the domains of any gambling site that doesn’t secure a partnership with a local casino.

Advance polling had shown that the ‘No’ side was winning the argument with younger voters, who feared establishing a precedent that would allow the government to block other domains it found objectionable.