What Happened in the Gambling World Over the Past Week? Read in Our Traditional Digest

The global trend of revising the legislation in the field of gambling continues. Over the past week, legal changes have taken place in Canada and Germany, while the gambling market continues to grow and develop actively in Ukraine. Read these and other news are in our weekly digest.

CRGL has updated the list of permits

The Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL) has expanded the list of companies certifying gambling equipment. Three more entities were added to five subjects that have already been approved by the decision from April 15, 2021 – NPP International Standards and Systems, All-Ukrainian State Research and Production Center for Standardization, Metrology, Certification and Consumer Rights Protection, as well as All-Ukrainian Expert Service Ukrekspertyza.

In addition, by the decision of the commission dated June 17, 2021, licenses were issued for 66 slot machines to Solo Games LLC and for 9 slots to First Win LLC.

At the same meeting, a decision was made to issue documents confirming the conformity of the premises for the organization and conduct of gambling. Thus, soon new gambling establishments or betting shops may appear in the hotels Bukovyna in Chernivtsi, Lybid Plaza in Khmelnytskyi and Yelysavethrad in Kropyvnytskyi.

Latvian gambling establishments resume operations

After a long break, land-based casinos in Latvia received permission from the authorities to resume their work. The venues have been closed since 2020 due to the worsening of epidemiological situation in the country caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since June 15 this year, the Latvian parliament has eased restrictions, thanks to which gambling establishments, betting shops and casinos will be able to work from 06:00 to 22:00. The only condition for operators will be compliance with the country's sanitary safety rules.

During the period when the activities of local operators were restricted, the local authorities provided them with financial support. In particular, for six months, participants of the gambling market received approximately €5 million.

Canadian Senate passed the law legalizing single events

After almost 10 years and two attempts to amend the Criminal Code, betting on single sports events became legal in Canada. The law will come into force after signing by Queen Elizabeth II.

Once the law is approved, the provinces of Canada will have the right to license and regulate the betting industry, on which Canadians spend about $14 billions annually through the offshore or illegal market. Until now, betting only on two or more games have been legal.

German gambling tax bill enters into force in July 2021

In May of this year, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) filed a complaint with the European Commission demanding the German government to justify the amount of turnover tax for online casinos and poker rooms. The bill provides that the tax rate for this segment of the gambling market should become 5.3%. It was approved last year by the Finance Committee of the German Legislative Assembly.

Despite the dissatisfaction of the representatives of the gambling industry, on June 23, 2021, at the plenary session of the Bundestag, the bill was adopted without changes.

According to the results of the Goldmedia study, such decision may lead to the fact that about 49% of players would refuse services of legal operators, which in turn, will contribute to the growth of the shadow market.

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