Gambling Industry News: Updates From the Markets of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, France and China

How much funds can gambling licenses bring to the state budget of Ukraine? When will French casinos reopen, and how big was the growth in turnover of local online operators in the third quarter? Read about these and other news from the gambling industry in our weekly digest.

Ukraine expects to get UAH 7.44 billion from the sale of gambling licenses

Draft law on the state budget of Ukraine for next year published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada indicates that the sale of licenses giving the right to organize and conduct gambling and lottery activities will replenish the revenues by 7.44 bn UAH in 20201. Money will be added to a special budget fund.

Gambling business was legalized in Ukraine in the summer of 2020. In the fall, the Cabinet of Ministers officially appointed the Head and first members of the commission, which will regulate the activities of operators. Government website features draft resolutions about the approval of licensing conditions for running a gambling business.

QIWI to launch Bets accounting center in Kazakhstan

QIWIKazakhstan has submitted an application for participation in the project for organization and support of Bets accounting center (BAC) that is going to make operations of betting operators more transparent. The organization has expressed a desire to act as an alternative service provider.

Experts note that QIWIKazakhstan already has the necessary technological and legal base, which will allow bookmakers operating in the Kazakhstan market to switch to a new model of work without problems.

BAC is a system allowing to register clients of betting companies, collect and store data about players, as well as all payments. It will start working in January 2021.

French casinos closed due to quarantine restrictions will resume operations

According to the decision of the French government, local casinos will again begin to receive visitors on December 15. The reopening of gambling establishments is important for the country's economic activity.

The work of casinos, bookmakers and bingo halls was suspended when quarantine was introduced in the country in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It operated from October 30 to December 1. Casinos were closed for the same reason from March to June.

French online gambling operators announced income for the third quarter of 2020

French online gambling market showed a recovery From July to September, after a pause when many sports events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to gambling regulator ANJ. As a result, operators' turnover increased by 25% compared to the second quarter of 2020 and by 17% compared to the third quarter of 2019.

At the end of the third quarter, the sports betting segment became the dominant activity in the online gambling market. In particular, the total volume of bets rose to €1.6 bn, which is 49% higher than in the third quarter of 2019. In general, over the past 10 years, this is the highest indicator for the period considered in the regulator's report. The turnover of online betting operators amounted to €228 mn.

In addition, in the third quarter, the segment of horse racing online betting recorded an increase of 34%. Turnover in this niche reached €363 mn. As for the poker market, the operators' turnover from July to September was about €90 mn.

The global turnover of the online gambling market in the first 9 months of the year reached €1.2 bn, which is 11% more than in 2019.

Lottery ticket sales increase in China

In October 2020, lottery tickets worth of 30.72 bn yuan were sold in China. Compared to the same period in 2019, sales have increased by 11.5%. This was reported by the Ministry of Finance of the republic.

In the second month of the autumn, operators received 18.44 bn yuan from the sales of sports lottery tickets, 24% more than the same period last year. As for the sales of charity lottery tickets, during the reporting period it reached 12.28 bn yuan. Over the year, the indicator has decreased by 3.2%.

Overall, first 10 months of the year resulted in sales of lottery tickets in the total amount of 261.4 bn yuan.

---

Read more about the latest events in the global gambling industry in the “News” section >>>