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Revenue rose to SEK26bn despite Sweden’s online casino deposit limit.

Sweden.- Gaming revenue in Sweden rose 5 per cent to SEK26bn (€2.41bn) in 2021. According to the annual report from the gaming regulator Spelinspektionen, online gambling revenue rose by 6 per cent. That’s despite a SEK5,000 monthly deposit limit being in force until November.

State lottery and slot machine sales from Svenska Spel also climbed by 6 per cent. No details were provided for land-based casino revenue, be it Svenska Spel’s Casino Cosmopol brand or restaurant casinos. Both were impacted heavily by the Covid-19 pandemic with venues closed for most of the year.

Spelinspektionen received SEK53.1m from control, supervision and gambling levies, up 0.8 per cent year-on-year. However, its costs rocketed by 39.1 per cent to SEK43.4m.

It reported that it handled 622 licence applications in 2021, up from 518 in 2020. It accepted 287 and rejected eight (many decisions carried over into this year). That took the total number of live licences to 2,252.

Spelinspektionen received SEK7.3m in application fees, but the cost of processing the applications was SEK21.5m. However, the regulator also received SEK13.7m in penalty fees, up 25.7 per cent. That took total revenue to SEK74.2m, up 0.9 per cent.

The regulator said it issued eight injunctions against unlicensed operators that were targeting Swedish players. Seven previous injunctions were revoked after operators ceased targeting the country. That left 24 in place at year end.

The Swedish government has dropped plans to reimpose an online casino deposit limit.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Supreme Administrative Court has agreed to hear an appeal on a sanction imposed on an online gambling operator by Spelinspektionen. The regulator appealed to the court after lower courts reduced the size of a fine it issued against Genesis Global in 2019 for self-exclusion violations.

“Once the COVID-19 situation stabilises and outlook on contagion begins to improve, we expect a solid recovery in Macau,” – Ben Lee, iGamiX

Macau.- Analyst have said that gaming revenues will likely recover from the Coronavirus outbreak in the third and fourth quarters of the year once travel restrictions have been lifted.

“Assuming the epidemic peaks in the next two months, we might see a recovery in Q3/4. The underlying manufacturing sector in Guangdong province is fragile and will need to recover before we can start to see the players returning to play over more,” Ben Lee from IGamiX Management & Consulting, told the Macau News Agency.

“Once the COVID-19 situation stabilises and outlook on contagion begins to improve, we expect a solid recovery in Macau,” he added.

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) revealed a dramatic plunge in gross gaming revenue in February with figures down 87% year on year.

Total revenue was just MOP3.1 billion (€350 million) for the month, but the figures come as no surprise after the government took the decision to close all 41 of the city’s casino for 15 days as part of efforts to halt the Coronavirus outbreak.

This represents the lowest monthly results recorded in Macau since 2005.

Travel restrictions, including visa bands and flight cancellations, led to a visitor numbers dropping to record lows during February.

According to Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, occupancy rates at local hotels fell to 11.8 per cent with average daily room rates as low as MOP690 (around €77).

The AIBC Akon Investor’s Breakfast will take place on the 22nd of March during the Dubai expo.

Press release.- AIBC Dubai has announced that it will hold a breakfast event for investors during the upcoming March summit. The AIBC breakfast will offer 10 start-up companies a unique opportunity to pitch their projects to an elite team of investors.

The private breakfast will take place on the second day of the AIBC Dubai summit from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. Companies looking for investors will receive a valuable 10-15 min slot to pitch their products to the room.

The line-up also includes philanthropist-entrepreneur and entertainer Akon. This will be the second AIBC Investors event for the singer, who is in Dubai for the AIBC conference, where he will take part. Following his participation in the 2019 event, it was announced that he planned to invest in 3 of the pitches.

Tickets are priced at $500 and are valid for up to 3 attendees per company. Space is limited, so visit our website to secure your spot.

AIBC Dubai

AIBC Dubai will host its first event for 2022, a 3-day summit taking place in Dubai from the 20th to 23rd of March at the Festival Arena by InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City.

Ahead of its time, Dubai’s economic vision has pushed the emirate to the forefront of the global business world. With a business-friendly approach – especially when it comes to regulation schemes, government support and attractive taxation benefits.

When it comes to the frontier industries, AIBC is leading the innovation pack with an event that offers unparalleled opportunities for entrepreneurs to network and share great ideas with like-minded delegates as East meets West.

Start-ups will also find plenty of opportunities to meet investors and VCs during the AIBC Pitch competition and on the expo floor where 100 start-ups will be given booths as part of the Start-up Village initiative.

The Dutch gaming regulator KSA has reminded operators that the Netherlands’ cooling-off period for operators that were active in the country before regulation has just one month left to run.

The Netherlands.- The gambling regulator De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has reminded gaming operators that the Netherlands’ cooling-off period imposed ahead of the launch of regulated online gambling will come to an end on April 1.

Under the Netherlands’ remote gambling legislation, the cooling off period required operators who were active in the Netherlands before the regulation of online gambling to wait two years and nine months to demonstrate they weren’t offering gambling without a licence.

That meant that only operators that did not accept Dutch customers in the two years before the market launched could apply for licences.

Regulated online gambling went live in the Netherlands on October 2 with 10 licensees. Since then another five online gambling licences have been granted by the KSA.

Several major gaming operators that did not initially apply for Dutch gambling licences, including Betsson, Entain, Kindred, 888 and LeoVegas, blocked Dutch players when the regulated market went live as they prepared to submit licence applications following the cooling-off period.

From April 1, KSA will review new applications to ensure the applicant has not offered unlicensed gambling during the cooling off period. The cooling-off period will no longer be in effect but KSA has said it will take account of unlicensed activity from up to eight years previous.

L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux has issued new guidelines following its condemnation of an “oversaturation” of gambling advertising during Euro 2020.

The national gambling regulator L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has updated its advertising guidelines and recommendations. The new guidelines follow a review and consultation carried out following the UEFA Euro 2020 Championships last year, which the regulator said had led to complaints from the public about an “oversaturation” of gambling ads.

Under the new guidelines, gambling ads will be reviewed to check their content. Ads that “trivialise gambling” or “contain unfounded statements” that suggest gambling can improve social status, offer an alternative to work or that show unrealistic chances of winning will be banned. So will the use of individuals or characters that are aged under 18.

Operators have been told they should limit advertising to three commercial communications per platform per day (i.e., website, app, social media, search engines). Players must be offered the option to choose whether to exclude themselves from ads. The ANJ is also recommending that TV and radio operators limit gambling advertising to a maximum of three gambling ads per advertising slot.

Operators must submit six-month reports detailing planned advertising spend and campaigns. The ANJ’s new guidelines follow a consultation that took public feedback and led to the formation of a symposium of advertising experts to draw up guidance to “limit the intensity of advertising” and protect vulnerable audiences and minors.

The new guidelines clarify that the “primary purpose of gambling advertising is to allow operators to make their offer known to the public so it can be distinguished from that of illegal/unlicensed operators”.

The ANJ said it would continue to review its guidelines and would take feedback from France’s Advertising Regulatory Authority ARPP and the Audiovisual Communication Regulator ARCOM.

The ANJ said: “In France, gambling is not considered an ordinary service because it carries significant risks of debt and public health issues (addiction and isolation) for the player and their family. This is why it is only authorised by way of derogation and is subject to strict supervision in order to prevent these risks.”

Earlier in the month, the ANJ introduced a new requirement for gaming operators to submit annual action plans outlining their responsible gambling measures. The plans will be studied by the ANJ’s policy team as the regulator seeks to establish a “constant dialogue” with operators in order to improve market protections.

In 2021, the ANJ launched a number of new measures with France’s Ministry of Health and the National Union of Family Associations in a bid to tackle the issue of problem gambling in France, including changes to its player protection strategy.

The president of Brazil has reaffirmed his position following the approval of the Regulatory Framework for Gaming in the Chamber of Deputies.

President Jair Bolsonaro has once again made his position clear on Brazil’s Gambling Regulatory Framework. After the Chamber of Deputies approved the basic text of the project that would legalise gambling including bingo, casino and Jogo do Bicho, Bolsonario has made clear that he will veto the proposal if the Federal Senate approves it.

During a live broadcast on social networks he said; “The House and the Senate, everyone knows, have autonomy. Some want me to disapprove or approve of certain things there. I have my limit. I did what I could with some of the closest parliamentarians to see if the project would be defeated there. Unfortunately, it was approved. Once approved, we will exercise our right of veto.”

However, as Bolsonaro himself has pointed out, if the project is approved by the National Congress and then vetoed by the President, it is possible, if unlikely, for his veto to be overridden by an absolute majority of votes of federal deputies and senators, that is, 257 votes of deputies and 41 votes of senators, computed separately.

The Chamber of Deputies approved the project in the early hours of Thursday by 246 votes against 202. Legislators rejected suggested amendments to the base text, which is expected to enter the Senate this week for analysis. The approval was a defeat for the evangelical caucus, which is against the proposal.

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Senator Addabbo has introduced Senate Bill 8412, which has been referred to the New York State Senate Racing, Gambling, and Wagering Committee.

 A bill seeking to legalise igaming in New York has been introduced in the New York State Senate. Senator Joe Addabbo’s Senate Bill 8412 has been referred to the New York State Senate Racing, Gambling, and Wagering Committee.

Bill 8412 sets an igaming tax rate of 25 per cent, lower than the current 51 per cent tax rate on online sports betting. Casinos or operators approved for igaming would have to pay a one-time $2m fee. Any independent contractor providing an igaming wagering platform and displaying its brand would have to pay a $10m one-time fee.

The bill estimates that the state would collect yearly tax revenue of $475m along with approximately $150m in the form of unique license fees from operators, casinos, and independent contractors.

Mobile sports betting in New York was launched on January 8. It generated $1.98bn in bets and gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $138.5m in the first 30 days, according to figures released by the New York State Gaming Commission.

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Senate Bill 213 seeks to legalise sports betting, fantasy sports and online poker.

Kentucky Senator David Yates has introduced a sports betting bill, SB 213, giving the state another opportunity to consider legalising sports gambling as well as other verticals including online poker and fantasy sports.

Yates’ bill would allow sports betting to be offered at licensed horse tracks and professional sports venues. Mobile betting would be available, although the bill would require in-person registration until 2023.

The gambling age for players will be 18 and apps would be available for download anywhere provided that players only engage in gambling from within the state’s borders.

The bill would allow bettors to wager on major professional sporting events as well as college sports. Retail bets would be subject to a 9.75 per cent tax on the adjusted gross revenue. Online bets would see a higher rate of 14.25 per cent.

The promoter of the bill suggests the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission should serve as the regulator of sports betting in the state. Kentucky legislators have introduced several sports betting bills in the past years.

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has voted to legalise online and land-based gambling in the country in a landmark decision.

The vote was to take place on 22 February, but was pushed back until yesterday (23 February).

Deputies voted 246-202 in favour of Bill 442/1991, bringing various forms of gambling to Brazil for the first time since a wide-reaching ban came into effect in 1946.

Bill 442/1991 was first introduced more than 30 years ago, initially as a jogo de bicho bill, and has been subject to various amendments throughout the years, adding more channels and types of gaming.

The bill would bring casino, online gaming, horse racing, slot machines, bingo and jogo de bicho operations to Brazil.

Casinos can now be established in each of Brazil’s 26 states, in the form of integrated resorts. Under the bill, the state of São Paulo could have up to three casinos, while Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Bahia could have up to 2 casinos each. All other states could have one integrated resort each.

Casino licences will be available through a tender process, where the highest bid will obtain the licence.

No operator will receive two licenses in the same state, or over five in total.

Casino operators must pay a licence fee of BRL$600,000 (£89,100/€106,800/$119,700) per licensed establishment. Online gaming operators will be subject to a BRL$600,000 fee for each licensed domain. Bingo operators must pay BRL$20,000 per establishment while jogo de bicho operators must pay BRL$20,000 quarterly per licensed entity.

Online games of chance – though not betting which is being regulated separately – would be permitted, with both the federal government and states permitted to offer licences.

While licensed online gambling would be permitted, unlicensed foreign websites would be blocked, and servers for locally licensed igaming operators must be located in Brazil.

Gambling on credit will be prohibited and tax on winnings will stand at 15%.

The bill will also allow for the creation of SINAJ, a a gambling supervisory authority in Brazil. It will consist of a federal registry, a supervisory body and betting agents.

A service that would identify and block problem gamblers, titled National Register of the Prohibited (RENAPRO), will also be established.

The bill will now go to the Senate, which will vote on it today (24 February).

If approved, it must then be ratified by President Jair Bolsonaro before it is passed into law. Bolsonaro has the power to veto the bill, and has indicated that he would do so, but the Senate may override a veto. The Senate is expected to have the votes required to override a veto if needed.

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North Rhine-Westphalia will become only the second German state to licence online casino gaming.

North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous of Germany’s 16 federal states, has announced that it will grant five online casino licences under the country’s Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty, which came into effect last July. It becomes only the second state to do so, following Schleswig-Holstein in the north.

Germany’s new federal gambling legislation allows online slots and sports betting but lets each individual state decide whether to grant licences to offer online casino table games. States can choose between granting a monopoly on online table games, normally falling to the state lottery, or to issue the same number of licences as the number of land-based casinos in the state.

The North Rhine-Westphalia Landtag has said it will offer five licences and that it has drawn up rules on player protection and taxes.

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

The GGL says that 110 staff will be required by the agency and that it will soon announce 50 new job advertisements on its careers page. It must finalise its senior management and administrative structures in time to be fully operational for January 1 2023.

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