INTERNATIONAL LEGAL REGULATION OF BOOKMAKING ACTIVITIES: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

The article analyses the international legal regulation of betting activities, its main challenges and development prospects. Betting activities play an important role in supporting the economy of countries, especially online betting, which is rapidly developing in the digital age. Such activities require detailed legal regulation through separate legal provisions or specialised regulations. Currently, there is a legal framework that partially regulates this area through a number of agreements, including the European Convention on the Regulation of Gambling (1964) and the Council of Europe Convention on the Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism. However, none of the international documents fully covers online betting, which is one of the main components of modern betting activities. The article provides a thorough analysis of the main problems of international legal regulation of this activity. Particular attention is paid to the absence of a single international standard in the field of betting and the difficulties of controlling the activities of online platforms. Among the most difficult issues is the legal uncertainty regarding the regulation and jurisdictions of online bookmaking. The author emphasises the need to eliminate the problems raised in the study, in particular by harmonising legal norms and creating common standards for the legal regulation of betting activities. The article pays special attention to the study of national legislation and legislation of certain EU countries which have the most developed systems of legal regulation of gambling and bookmaking activities. In particular, the author examines the practice of legal regulation of these issues in the UK, France and Spain as countries with the most progressive and effective legal mechanisms. The author also emphasises the need to improve international legal cooperation and proposes to develop a comprehensive legal mechanism aimed at ensuring effective legal regulation of betting activities. In addition, the article focuses on the need to protect the rights of betting participants, which will contribute to the further development and enhancement of transparency of this activity.