China - Apply for On-line Gambling License

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Procedure

The culture administrative department of the State Council shall be the department in charge of online games, and the culture administrative departments of the people's governments at and above the county level shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of online games within their respective administrative regions according to their respective functions.

Entities engaging in online game business operations shall abide by the Constitution, laws and administrative regulations, give priority to social benefits and protection of the minors, carry forward thoughts, cultures and ethics embodying developments in the current era and social advancement, follow the principles of protection of public health and moderate game play, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of online game users pursuant to law, and promote the overall development of a person as well as social harmony.

The culture administrative department of the State Council shall examine the contents of imported online games pursuant to law. An imported online game may be put into network operation only upon a content approval of the culture administrative department of the State Council. An applicant for content examination shall submit the following materials:

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Required Documents

• An application form for the content examination of an imported online game
• The content description of an imported online game
• The Chinese and foreign versions of a copyright trade or operation agency agreement, and the duplicates or photocopies of the original copyright certification and power of attorney

Office Locations & Contacts

People's Republic of China Ministry of Culture
Address: Haidian District, Beijing Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing Friendship Hotel No.1 Yingbin
Zip Code: 100086
Phone: 59881114

Eligibility

The expansion of online gaming has reflected the overall expansion of computer networks from small local networks to the Internet and the growth of Internet access itself.

Online games can range from simple text based games to games incorporating complex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously.

Many online games have associated online communities, making online games a form of social activity beyond single player games.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

In order to strengthen the administration of online games, regulate the order of online game business operations and maintain the healthy development of the online game industry, these Measures are formulated in accordance with the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Maintaining Internet Security, the Administrative Measures for Internet Information Services and the relevant provisions of laws and regulations of the state.

No online game shall contain anything:

• violating the basic principles determined in the Constitution;
• compromising the unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity of the state;
• divulging a national secret, jeopardizing the national security or damaging the honor and interests of the state;
• instigating hatred or discrimination among ethnic groups, undermining the solidarity among ethnic groups, or disrespecting ethnic customs and practices;
• advocating cult or superstition;
• spreading rumors to disrupt the public order and social stability;
• advocating obscenity, pornography, gambling or violence, or abetting the commission of a crime;
• insulting or defaming others and injuring the legitimate rights and interests of others;
• breaching social morality; or
• otherwise prohibited by any law, administrative regulation or provision of the state.

Required Information

• Name, domicile, organizational structure and articles of association of the entity;
• Fixed business scope of online games;
• Personnel who meet the relevant provisions of the state;
• Registered capital of not less than 10 million yuan; and
• Conditions as prescribed by laws, administrative regulations and the relevant provisions of the state.

Need for the Document

An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems.

Information which might help

The Measures shall apply to the R&D and production of online games, network operation of online games, distribution of virtual currency of online games, virtual currency trading services of online games, and other forms of business operations of online games.

The term online games as mentioned in these Measures refers to game products and services consisting of software programs and information data, which are provided via information networks such as the Internet and mobile communication networks.

The term network operation of online games refers to the provision of game products and services to the public via an information network by using a user system or fee system.

The term virtual currency of online games refers to an virtual exchange tool existing outside the game program, stored in the server in the form of electromagnetic record and represented in specific digital units, which is distributed by an online game business entity and directly or indirectly purchased by the online game users with legal tenders according to a certain proportion.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

China's Ministry of Culture has issued what it calls the "Interim Measures for Internet Games" in an attempt to protect minors from "unwholesome" content.

External Links

Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Games

People's Republic of China Ministry of Culture

Others

Where an online game business entity which has obtained an Internet Culture Business Permit modifies its website name, website domain name, legal representative, registered address, business premises, registered capital, equity structure or licensed business scope, it shall go through the modification formalities at the original permit-issuing organ within 20 days after the date of modification.

An online game business entity shall publish its Internet Culture Business Permit and other information in a conspicuous position of its enterprise website, client software of products, customer service center, etc.; and the domain name of its website in actual operation shall be consistent with the information declared by it.