Regulatory Changes from Online and Land-Based Sectors Worldwide for February 2021

Similar to previous months, a huge number of US states approved online casinos or web-based sports wagering. In those regions where these activities are still not permitted, relevant institutions are putting efforts to prepare the market for any future introduction.

Our insightful report will give you the most significant highlights from various corners of the world. The particular focuses in this retrospective are markets of the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Stay tuned!

Regulatory Changes USA-Wide

Alabama: Representative John Rogers presented legislation to approve retail and online sports betting. The bill HB 161 would permit seven licenses, as well as a 10% tax rate on the gross win from sports wagering. On top of that, both collegiate and professional sports would be allowed.

Arizona: Senator Sonny Borrelli and Representative Steve Pierce reintroduced legislation to give approvals to Indian tribes to operate retail sports betting in casinos. Governor Doug Ducey later agreed on that but also required the legislature to legislation to allow sports wagering via the Internet and also permit DFS games and keno.

Moreover, representative Jeff Weninger presented legislation to remit sports betting via tribal casinos and major league sports organizations. According to the bill, HB2772, retail and online wagering, as well as daily fantasy sports games, would be permitted through the state’s 24 tribal casinos. Plus, 10 licenses would be granted to major league sports organizations including the Phoenix Raceway, Arizona Cardinals NFL team, and Phoenix Coyotes NHL team.

Connecticut: Governor Ned Lamont included projections for legalized sports wagering and online gaming in his FY2022/23 budget.

Georgia: Senator Brandon Beach presented legislation to allow pari-mutuel betting on horseraces in the state via a statewide referendum.

Illinois: Legislators presented a bill to authorize and regulate online gaming in the state. The Internet Gaming Act (HB3142) would allow the land-based facilities and racetracks to offer online casino games via three skins at the tax rate of 12% of the gross win.

Kentucky: Governor Andy Beshear signed the legislation to finally legalize historical horserace wagering.

Massachusetts: Senator Brian Crighton presented legislation to greenlight retail and online sports betting. According to the bill, SB177, OTBs, racetracks, and casinos permitted in the state would be allowed to offer these services. If ed, the bill would impose a 15% tax on the gross win on all sports wagering activity. However, bets on in-state college sports events would be prohibited.

Michigan: This stale finally opened an online casino and sports betting market on January 22. Eight online casino platforms and ten web-based sports wagering platforms going live. The latter include BetRivers, DraftKings, William Hill, FanDuel, Barstool, PointsBet, TwinSpires, BetMGM, Golden Nugget, and WynnBet. Moreover, PokerStars rolled out its online poker platform in the state on 29 January, while FoxBet presented its Internet sports wagering platform the same day. Barstool opened the doors of its Internet casino platform on 01 February.

Minnesota: Legislators announced a bill to authorize and regulate sports betting in the state. According to the bill, a tax of 6% on the gross win for retail betting would be imposed. Also, 8% of the gross win for online would be taxed. Moreover, the consumers would have to create online betting s in person at a land-based establishment that offers sports betting.

North Dakota: Representative Jim Kasper presented legislation to permit online poker in the state.

Oklahoma: The Supreme Court ruled against the legality of compacts agreed between State Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma Tribes for the second time. According to the ruling, the said compacts from July 2020 were unconstitutional.

Pennsylvania: On 24 February BetMGM rolled out its second Internet casino platform, Borgata Casino.

Vermont: The legislation which aims to approve and regulate sports wagering was introduced to the Senate. As per bill SB77, retail sports betting via the state lottery and online via six commercial operators would be greenlighted.

Virginia: DraftKings introduced the state’s second online sportsbook on 25 January, while BetMGM launched its web-based sportsbook two days later. Furthermore, William Hill opened its online sportsbook on 03 February 2021.

Wyoming: Legislators filed a bill to approve sports wagering on the Internet in the state. As far as the bill HB133 defines, this activity would be allowed on professional, collegiate, and esports events.

Versatile European Markets

Sweden: On 02 February Svenska Spel rolled out a new online sports wagering platform in partnership with DraftKings.

The Netherlands: The Government announced a further one-month delay to the enforcement date of the Remote Gambling Act to 01 April 2021. As a consequence, the launch of the online market is also postponed to 01 October this year.

Moreover, the Remote Gaming Act went through some modifications. A couple of bans were introduced as well. Gambling companies are not permitted to use sports teams in ments, time bonuses are prohibited as well as bets on football games in u-21 sports leagues and events in the third division, or below

Austria: The Ministry of Finance declared it would introduce new legislation by the end of April this year to overhaul the current gambling regulatory framework in the country. One of the main goals of the legislation is the establishment of a new, independent gambling regulator, and be in charge of licensing.

In addition to this, the regulator would develop a new national omnichannel self-exclusion , and include measures to introduce stake and time limits on online gaming machines. Plus, the tax on gambling operators would be increased. Finally, a blacklist for unlicensed operators would be instated as well.

Ukraine: Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) greenlighted the country’s first online gambling approval under the new regulatory regime. The very first license was granted to Spaceiks, a local online gaming provider running the Cosmolot brand. However, before the country’s new gambling market can start operating, the Government needs to the necessary taxation legislation.

Highlights from the United Kingdom and Ireland

In the United Kingdom, the DCMS introduced a consultation which aims to gather opinions on its proposals to increase the annual license fees for the remote casino, betting, and bingo operators as well as all gambling software suppliers by 55% from 01 October the current year.

Moreover, this institution suggested removing the 5% discount for combined remote and non-remote operating licenses from the same day. The proposals would also increase the annual license fees for non-remote suppliers by 15% from 01 April 2022.

Aside from that…

…The Gambling Commission came up with a wealth of new restrictions for online slot games. Features that speed up play or give the illusion of control over the outcome will be banned, as well as auto-play, which can lead to punters losing track of their play. Sounds or imagery which give the illusion of a win when the return is, actually, equal to, or below, a stake will also be prohibited. Finally, slot spin cannot be faster than 2.5 seconds.

Also, the UKGC banned reverse withdrawals for all online gambling. Operators will be required to display total loss or win during any slot play session. They must ensure they adhere to the new regulations by 31 October this year.

As for Ireland, legislators presented a bill to prohibit all forms of gambling ment excluding sponsorship. As stated, the intention of the Gambling Prohibition of Advertising Bill 2021 was to help address the national problem of gambling addiction.

Regulatory Changes from Asia

The Chinese government announced an amnesty period for citizens involved in the organization or facilitation of gambling-related activities across the border. Such individuals were motivated to come forward and provide information in return for reduced punishment.

Meanwhile…

…Japanese government confirmed it would not impose a withholding tax on the casino winnings of foreign visitors. Philippines’ House of Representatives ed legislation to impose a 5% tax on the gross gaming receipts of POGO. The bill went to the Senate for consideration.

Thai Government issued a warning to ISP’s to state they must block access to over 1,200 blacklisted gambling sites. If they don’t do so within 15 days they risk facing legal action. Moreover, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha declared he would consider the legalization of gambling to assist the economic recovery resulting from the ongoing crisis.

Source:

“H2 Gambling Capital”, February 2021