February 2020 iGaming Changes in Regulations

Worldwide Regulatory Updates in iGaming Industry For February 2020

February had its share of regulatory updates and changes across the iGaming industry’s sectors worldwide.

USA followed the way with gambling expansion and sports betting legalization. We are bringing you the review of these changes as they happened during the course of this month.

US iGaming Updates

Alabama: A working group was created to evaluate the effects of gambling in this state. House are pushing to settle the state’s lottery and gambling issues and the sponsor of a lottery bill in the House said he planned to pursue it in the current session.

Alaska: Governor Dunleavy has presented a legislation for creation of a state lottery. His bill would launch the lottery draws and scratchcards and include multi-state lottery. Alaska is one of five states without its state lottery.

Arizona: A Senate Bill was drafted that should legalize sports betting, which is a second attempt at this after last year’s failure. This one would authorize Indian tribes to operate sports betting on their premises. Non-casino sports betting is facing big resistance in this state.

Colorado: State’s regulator has awarded seven sports betting licenses to land-based casinos there and has formed regulations for this vertical. Retail and online betting skin is allowed to licensees.

Florida: A bill that would implement a warning on lottery tickets and forbid use of lottery games on electronic devices is resubmitted in this state. It would also forbid the Florida Lottery from conducting games in which winners are chosen based on the outcome of sporting events.

Kentucky: Governor Beshear has voiced his open for legal sports betting and has called on ing of HB 137 that will authorize and regulate this activity. He said it will not require a constitutional amendment to take effect.

Maryland: A constitutional amendment that would require state voters to decide on exempting expanded gambling proposals from requiring majority approval in future referendums was approved by the Senate.

Nebraska: A hearing for three distinct gambling bills was held in state legislature. LR 295CA would legalize gambling throughout the state, LB 971 wishes to include sports betting while LB 990 make all games of skills including sports betting legal.

New Jersey: BetMakers and Darby Development have signed a 10 year deal for fixed-odds betting on its horse races. The product could be rolled out to other jurisdictions as well. The new system could be launched by May 2nd.

New York: A push to accelerate the issuing of more downstate casino licenses is being made after four new casinos were opened upstate.

Pennsylvania: Scientific Games and Betfred have teamed up for full retail and online betting partnership in Wind Creek Casino.

Virginia: Casino bill HB 374 was ed to Senate and House floor. It’s a re-enactment of the SB 1126 ed last year to authorize casino games in some cities. HB 374 would permit casinos in five cities. Virginia is one of ten states without any casinos. Furthermore, online sports betting bill HB 896 was ed by the House and the Senate Finance which must be approved by March 7th to get to Governor’s desk.

Europe

: The State Treaty that comes into effect on July 1st will legalize online casinos under strict controls. Operator that applies for a sports betting license must shut down their online casino operations. Sports betting operators will be able to continue their casino offerings if the regulator makes a transitional period until the new regulations take place.

Ireland: Football Association of Ireland has terminated its sponsorship with betting company SportPesa following the anti-gambling campaigners’ criticism which said that agreement was promoting betting.

Portugal: The government has set a flat 25% grow win tax in their 2020 Budget. This tax applies to interactive casino gaming and increased taxation on betting exchanges from 15% of gross win to 35%.

Spain: The country has detailed their gambling restrictions. Live sports broadcasts that kick off between 8 PM and 5 AM will allow some advertising, without any reference to promotions and no live odds. Operators will be able to have sponsorship details with sport teams but there will be no branding on youth shirts.

UK: Neil McArthur, new UKGC CEO, has said that a hard limit on online slots is being considered. The decision will be made by August. Also, a voluntary ban on gambling sponsorship on sports shirts is being considered.

Asia and Rest of the World

India: All forms of online lottery have been banned by the Punjab government, for Indian and foreign lottery sellers. This is done in an effort to stop the sale of illegal lotteries and boost the state revenues.

Japan: MGM was the only casino consortium that filed an application to build an integrated resort in Osaka before the deadline on February 14th. Other operators focused mostly on Yokohama.

Philippines: The Government of China is going to cancel ports for Chinese citizens who are working for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators as a way of clamping down on illegal gambling.

Brazil: Public is invited to comment during the third consultation on fixed-odds sports betting. There will be a fixed number of licensed issued as opposed to the original plan of there being unlimited numbers of licenses for operators that meet licensing conditions. The new consultations will run until March 6th which will delay the opening of the market.

Kenya: Gambling ments will be banned on television and radio between 6 and 10 AM, except during the live sports broadcasts. There is also a proposed 35% tax on the revenue media companies earn from gambling ads, suggested in the legislation.

Source:

“H2 Gambling Capital”