Hi I'm a swiss poker player and this will concern for the most part other swiss gamblers.
As most of you know a new gaming law (following a popular vote) has been drafted by the swiss parliament that would legalize, provide a framework for gambling providers to get licensed and tax online gambling as a whole in the country. Unfortunately this comes with one big caveat which is the point of this referendum: between the time this law is passed and the first licenses are issued foreign providers will be outlawed and the ISPs will have to enforce this ban. Moreover the costs generated will be passed down to the government!
In itself the measures proposed seem laughable and easy to circumvent but this sets a dangerous precedent for internet censorship and the whole discussion around the law has been dominated by the interests of the swiss casinos. For more info about the law and its history consult this
link.
Today the youth wings of several parties have launched a referendum to remove these measures from the final bill and if you are a swiss citizen you can sign it online here:
sign the referendum (i linked the french version but it is obviously in german and italian aswell)
Once you've signed you will receive a pdf file which you will then have to print, fill out and send through the postal system to the address given in the link stamp free.
We have 100 days to collect 50'000 signatures. If we suceed this will become an object in a federal votation in the near future and the people will have to vote to either accept the amendments to the bill made in the referendum or reject them. (This wouldn't be a votation on the law itself)
I recommend you to read up on the issue and make good use of the blessing that is direct democracy. Also consider talking to your family/friends about it and convince them to sign if you feel strongly about this issue.
Few links to read up on the issue (all in french/english i'm afraid):
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casinonews
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FDP youth wing communiqué
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Genevan newspaper article
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news article + short debate in french
Last edited by BYOBToBBQ; 10-10-2017 at 05:50 PM.
Reason: Grammar mistakes
