admin

Slovenia’s National Assembly has approved the second reading on amendments to the Gaming Act. A final vote on the proposed changes will be held in March.

Slovenia’s National Assembly has approved amendments to the country’s Gaming Act on their second reading. A final vote on the changes will be held in March.

The Gaming Act´s amendments aim to liberalise the gaming market, scrapping most curbs on casino ownership and employee licensing and allowing five lottery organisers rather than the current two.

The changes abolish the requirement that companies wishing to obtain a concession for classic games of chance and special games of chance in casinos have to be organised as joint-stock companies. It will no longer be required that the applicant for a concession for special games of chance be based in Slovenia either. Land-based presence will still be required for classic games of chance.

If the bill passes, it will establish a legal framework that will enable concessions to be granted on the basis of a public tender. The proposed changes will potentially open the door to the Slovenian gambling market to international operators and will ensure compliance with EU legislation.

Focusgn.com

Governor Steve Sisolak has announced the immediate end of Nevada’s indoor mask mandate.

 Things are starting to get back to normal in Nevada casinos. Yesterday, governor Steve Sisolak announced that the state will no longer require face coverings in gaming venues or other indoor public places. The change is effective immediately.

Shortly after Sisolak’s press conference, Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman Brin Gibson issued a notice to Las Vegas casinos.

“Pursuant to governor Sisolak’s Emergency Directive 052, effective immediately, individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in public indoor settings in licensed gaming establishments, unless a local jurisdiction still imposes such a requirement,” Gibson said. “If a licensee is subject to a local jurisdiction’s requirement relating to masks, the Board expects full compliance from the licensee.”

Sisolak warned: “I want to be clear, the emergency is not over.” And he added: “The pandemic is not over. We’re still getting far too many cases, far too many hospitalizations, and far too many deaths.”

“I’m hopeful and confident, based on the data we have, we are in a good position to drop this and to give people back some freedom. Everyone wants to get back to their normal life … I mean, it’s been two years. I think the time has come,” the governor said.

The end of the mask mandate is welcome news to Las Vegas casinos. Despite record gaming revenues, during Q4 earnings calls casino executives said the mask mandate had kept some visitors from returning to Las Vegas.

Focusgn.com

While land-based revenue declined, Lithuanian online gambling revenue was up by more than 70 per cent year-on-year.

Online gambling revenue in Lithuania soared by 71.5 per cent to €102.1m in 2021, easily outpacing the decline in land-based gaming revenue caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Overall gross gambling revenue rose 31.5 per cent year-on-year to €136.2m.

Online gambling customer spend was up from €1.02bn in 2020 to €1.63bn. Category A slot revenue almost doubled, reaching €59.6m. Online betting revenue generated €34.2m, up 29.4 per cent, and online table game revenue rose by 205.7 per cent to €5.8m. Category B slots generated €2.4m, up 94.8 per cent.

Meanwhile land-based gaming revenue was down 22.5 per cent year-on-year at €34m due to pandemic-related closures. Customer spend fell by a similar rate to €218.5m.

Category B slot machines, which have €0.50 per spin stake limits, accounted for the largest share of that at €14.8m. Table games generated €8.1m, down 20.5 per cent. Uncapped Category A slot machines generated €7m and retail betting €4.8m, down 28.6 per cent.

The numbers follow a similar pattern to that reported by Latvia. Figures published last week show that Latvian online gambling revenue almost doubled in 2021, reaching €109m.

Focusgn.com

The site for the German Federal States’ Joint Gambling Authority is now online.

The executive of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt has announced the launch the website for the country’s new federal regulator, Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL – The German Federal States’ Joint Gambling Authority).

On its website, the GGL said that 110 staff will be required by the agency and that it will soon announce 50 new job advertisements on its careers page.

The GGL is not yet fully formed and must still finalise its senior management and administrative structures. Saxony Anhalt has said it expected the body to be fully operational by January 1 next year. Until then, the executive of Hesse will serve as the temporary body for German sports betting licences while Saxony-Anhalt is responsible for online casino and poker licences.

The north-eastern state was chosen to host the federal gaming supervisor in 2020 as part of the development of the new federal treaty on gambling, which established a federal regulated online gambling market from last July.

Bundestag representative Anne Poggemann is serving as the state’s first gambling minister and overseeing the creation of the GGL, which will have its headquarters in Halle in the south of Saxony Anhalt. Ronald Benter and Benjamin Schwanke will lead the regulator as joint chief executives. 

As well as licensing, the GGL will be responsible for maintaining databases monitoring player engagements and operator activities.

Fosucgn.com

Denmark’s gaming regulator Spillemyndigheden has submitted an updated certification system for online betting, online casino and land-based betting licensing to the European Commission.

This will become ‘version 2.0’ of Spillemyndigheden’s certification system, the regulator explained, following previous updates in 2015, 2018 and 2020.

The system outlines what conditions operators must meet to be issued licences, with rules tightened around data, testing and player protection.

The certification document was submitted to the European Commission on 25 January 2022. It must now enter a standstill period, which ends on 26 April 2022.

Changes will be implemented across a number of areas. A players’ status with Denmark’s Register of Voluntarily Excluded Players (ROFUS) will no longer be stored by licensees after it has been used for the original purpose.

In January, Spillemyndigheden reported that over 30,000 players had self-excluded with ROFUS.

Additionally, operators will no longer be required to submit quarterly reports on system changes to Spillemyndigheden.

Specifications also address the use of certain types of language. Requirements to display information on harmful gambling, the ROFUS register and other customer protection measures must be clearly displayed on the licencees’s site interface in accurate and clear language.

Adjustments will be made to the testing process. Current requirements for testing must adhere to certain International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) requirements, specifically ISO17020 or ISO17025.

ISO17020 holds requirements for different types of inspection bodies, while ISO17025 details the requirements testing and calibration labs.

If the European Commission ratifies the certification update, ISO17025 will remain while ISO17920 will be replaced by ISO17065, which has requirements for bodies certifying products and services.

If the updated certification system is ratified by the European Commission, there will be a transition period that ends on 1 January 2023.

Igamingbusiness

Dutch gambling regulator de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has issued a new igaming licence to Belgium’s Casino de Spa, one of the oldest land-based casinos in the world.

The licence will enable Casino de Spa to offer online games of chance over the internet to players in the Netherlands.

The new permit came into effect on 2 February and will be valid for a period of five years, to February 2027.

Casino de Spa will operate in the Netherlands via its Casino777.be online brand.

The operator becomes the 12th business to secure an igaming licence in the Netherlands since the country launched its regulated online gambling market on 1 October last year.

The market went live with an initial 10 operators, with the KSA having issued licences to bet365, UK-based bingo operator Tombola and Malta- and Estonia-licensed Play North Ltd are among the brands cleared to launch, alongside Dutch land-based operator Holland Casino NV and state lottery Nederlandse Loterij with its TOTO Online betting brand.

The Janshen Hahnraths Group with FPO Nederland, Italy-based Betent, Belgian brand Bingoal, NSUS Malta, which runs the GGPoker.eu brand and sports media and betting business LiveScore Malta also held licences on opening day.

JOI Gaming, a division of Dutch land-based casino operator JVH Gaming & Entertainment Group, also secured an online gambling licence in the country in November.

Igamingbusiness

A bill proposing the legalisation of mobile sports wagering in South Dakota has been passed in the state’s Senate.

Senate Joint Resolution 502 is set to be introduced during South Dakota’s next general election, allowing citizens the chance to vote on whether it should come to pass. The proposal was passed by a slim majority – 18 votes to 17.

Should the proposal be voted in at the general election, players will be able to place mobile wagers on sporting events, provided the platform is partnered with one of the casinos in the city of Deadwood.

The legislation stipulates that any proceeds from games of chance should be used for educational, charitable, patriotic, religious, or other public spirited uses – which include the historic restoration and preservation of Deadwood. The resolution will also allow for a state-run lottery and video games of chance.

Sports betting was legalised in South Dakota back in March 2021 after Governor Kristi Noem signed Senate Bill 44 into law, but restricted to casinos in the city of Deadwood.

A bill to legalise retail outlets to act as affiliates for Deadwood’s casinos has also progressed in the state legislature, and referred to the House State Affairs Committee.

House Bill 1148 defines a licenced affiliate business as “any premises that forms a partnership with a licensed gaming establishment for the purpose of offering customers within the interior of the premises the opportunity to wager on sporting events through the sports wagering system of a licensed gaming establishment”.

The licence fee for an affiliate business licence stands at $2,000, and is renewable on 1 July every year for a fee of $200. Any licenced affiliate businesses perceived to commit violations of the state’s gaming legislation could be fined up to $25,000.

House Bill 1148 was first introduced into the Senate at the end of January, and is scheduled for hearing in the Senate House tomorrow (9 February).

Igamingbusiness

Hungary’s parliament has introduced online gaming legislation which open the market to private online operators, bringing an end to the current state monopoly on sports betting.

In the previous iteration of Hungary’s gaming laws, written in 2014, land-based casino operators were allowed to apply for online casino and poker licenses, while online sports betting was restricted to the state-run Szerencsejáték Zrt betting monopoly.

Under the new proposals, operators within the European Economic Area will be free to launch online gaming offerings in the country with the permission of Hungary’s gaming regulator. There is so far no limit on the number of permits that can be issued.

Any operators who have offered igaming in Europe without a licence during the ten years before their application will be prohibited from operating in Hungary.

The legislation also allows the use of credit cards for online deposits, provided it is linked with an authorised payment service provider.

Any operator looking to obtain a licence must also have share capital of at least HUF1bn (£2.4m/€2.8m). Licence fees will cost HUF600m (€1.7m/£1.4m), paid to the Hungarian State Treasury. Operators are also obliged to provide a minimum guarantee of HUF250m, while the tax rate for operators is yet to be determined.

Changes to the legislation are designed to ensure a higher standard of player protection. Recognising that a more competitive gaming market could encourage excessive gambling, the bill stipulates that a player protection plan be drawn up by the operator “in accordance with the principle of responsible gaming and the protection of players”.

Text within the legislation explains: “In a liberalised online betting market, several private companies are competing with each other, so there is a danger of encouraging excessive gambling instead of maximising the principle of responsible gaming.

“Therefore, the draft aims to liberalize remote gambling by emphasizing the protection of players and introducing guarantee regulatory elements that protect the interests of players.”

The bill is subject to a standstill period following its notification to the European Commission, which runs until 4 May.

The Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) ruled in 2017 that Hungary’s online gaming rules were unlawfully excluding European operators from the licencing process.

This followed Kindred Group’s Unibet brand bringing the case to court, alleging that international operators were unable to meet Hungary’s conditions for online licensing.

The European Gaming and Betting Association believes the E-ID initiative would benefit gambling operators and customers.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has lent its support for the European Union’s plan for a harmonised European Digital Identity (E-ID).

The digital ID system will allow EU citizens to guard a range of data, such as name, date of birth, bank account numbers, driving licences and proof of Covid-19 vaccination status in a single electronic wallet.
Both public and private sector organisations, including gambling sites, would have to recognise the ID, which could begin to roll out as early as next year, with a target for 80 per cent of EU citizens to be using it by 2030.

The EGBA’s manager of EU affairs, Vasiliki Panousi, noted that this could offer benefits for gambling operators and customers, allowing easier, standardised procedures of age and identify verification and electronic signing.
Writing in the International Masters of Gaming Law Magazine, Panousi said: “Α standardised, pan-EU identity verification method would […] provide online gambling operators with a new, streamlined method for compliance with many different rules and help reduce administrative and compliance costs, in particular for those companies that operate across multiple member states.

“An EU-wide e-ID would strengthen existing processes to prevent minors from accessing online gambling and positively impact the EU’s fight against criminal and fraudulent activity.”

The E-ID would also allow self-excluded players to share their data on their self-exclusion in their E-ID wallet, although some have noted that they will need awareness of how to do this.

Panousi said: “It would also offer national gambling authorities a standardised tool to identify customers with a high degree of certainty and support an operator’s compliance in their jurisdiction.

“As well as streamlining the work of operators, an E-ID would also enhance the customer experience. In an ever-increasing era of online services, players would be able to verify their identities easily, with the click of a button.”

The EGBA has long pushed for more standardised regulation of consumer protection rules across the European Union, noting the great disparity in online gambling regulation across the bloc.

The group has welcomed the European Commission’s new anti-money laundering (AML) framework, saying it would lead to more consistency. Meanwhile, it’s raised concerns over a proposed ban on free bets in Ireland.

A survey of ICE London attendees reveals the vast majority of this year’s delegates see the show as a key event for deals, industry knowledge and discovering new ideas and concepts.

A research project from Explori, which canvassed the opinions of 1,211 ICE registrants, has revealed that just under three out of four (74%) plan to attend the show, which returns to ExCeL London on 12-14 April. 

Of this number, 77% were either final decision makers or had a say in purchasing decisions for their business. The vast majority (81%) viewed the show as important to attend, with 67% saying they did so to acquire new suppliers or partners. 

A further 56% said they travelled to the show to gain an overview of the gaming market, with 53% saying they would be at the ExCeL to be inspired by new ideas. 

This, Clarion Gaming managing director Stuart Hunter said, demonstrated the appetite for the show’s return after an absence of more than two years.

However, he stressed that the move to April was “very much a one-off and a last resort” due to the lack of any alternative dates for an exhibition the size and scale of ICE.

Furthermore, the new dates in April had substantially eased concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic, which prompted the shift from early February. 

“We also have the recent announcement by the UK Government confirming that from 11 February, vaccinated international travellers will not have to test for Covid on arrival in England,” Hunter said. “This is a major development that will encourage more visitors to make the journey to London and be part of the ICE experience. 

“In addition, the UK Government has moved to its Plan A Covid response which involves a significant easing of Covid restrictions, including the end of mandatory face masks and a relaxation of the rules applying to Covid Certification Passports.

“I support the view of lead bodies such as UKHospitality and UKinbound that the lifting of restrictions represents a pragmatic step towards normality. It also shows that the UK and ICE London are very much open for business.”

Some high-profile exhibitors have announced their withdrawal from this year’s event, something Hunter said had changed the dynamic of ICE 2022. However, he reiterated that ICE remains the largest gaming event in the calendar, with around 450 businesses still exhibiting this year, alongside a further 150 at iGB Affiliate London. 

In less than two weeks, a further 15 new exhibitors had signed up, occupying more than 1,000 square metres of space on the show floor. 

“The ICE brand has always worked to represent the entire gaming ecosystem. We continue to be committed to the whole of the industry, including the many smaller businesses throughout the supply chain which rely on ICE London for a significant proportion of their annual turnover,” Hunter added. 

“It’s been too long since the business has been able to meet face-to-face and the team is looking forward to bringing everyone together to celebrate the return of the industry in a safe and a secure environment. I would like to add that we will continue to engage with our customers in the run-up to and after the completion of ICE London 2022.”

Igamingbusiness.com