Brief News: Gambling Market in Ukraine, France, and UK

How big can a fine for violation of identification requirements be at gambling facilities in Ukraine? What waits for listeners of the online seminar about efficient poker strategies? What revenue did French gambling operators receive during the coronavirus pandemic? What European country has not managed to find the winner of a multimillion jackpot for almost half a year? You can read about these and other gambling news in our weekly digest.

Esports recognized as an official sport in Ukraine

On September 7, 2020, esports was recognized as an official sport in Ukraine. A corresponding decision was taken by the Commission for the Recognition of Sports. It was reported by the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Vadym Guttsait.

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvii Bidnyi emphasized that esports has all attributes that allow classifying it as a kind of sport. According to the politician, today it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the representatives of the Ukrainian esports community to be able to realize themselves in the chosen direction.

Fine for violation of player identification rules can reach UAH 170,000 in Ukraine

The Verkhovna Rada’s Budget Committee considered the bill No.3792, which stipulates criminal responsibility for the violation of requirements to the identification of visitors of gambling facilities. In the end, the collegial body decided that the bill had an indirect impact on budget numbers. Depending on the number of detected violations, it can lead to the increase in budget revenue.

The bill No.3792 envisages that in case of non-observance of player identification rules, violators will have to pay a fine of 3,000 to 10,000 times non-taxable minimum incomes. Besides, it is offered to deprive them of the right to occupy standalone positions or conduct a certain activity for the period of up to three years.

Today a non-taxable minimum income equals to UAH 17. In accordance with the current version of the bill, the fine for violators can be from UAH 51,000 to UAH 170,000.

Professional poker players Dunst and Binger will take part in the online seminar

As LoginCasino reports, LearnWPT platform will host a three-day seminar about efficient poker game strategies. The event is intended for players passionate about No-Limit Hold’em and willing to acquire new tactics.

The seminar will take place from September 25 to 27. Theoretical training will take place in Zoom. The online seminar will feature professional poker players and holders of WSOP bracelets Tony Dunst and Nick Binger. They will share the most effective poker strategies.

Listeners will be able to ask speakers questions and try themselves in the online tournament. The cost of participation is $1,997.

French gambling operators reported their revenue in the second quarter of 2020

According to data of the French gambling regulator ANJ, two segments of the French gambling market recorded the increase in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, when sports competitions were cancelled or postponed throughout the world.

From April to June of 2020, the gross revenue of online poker operators was €142 million, which is 126% more than in the same period of 2019. Besides, the number of bets on horse racing grew in the second quarter. Punters placed the total amount of €362 million in bets in the specified period. And the revenue of gambling companies reached €88 million. Compared to the second quarter of the last year, the revenue increased by 33%.

Total gross revenue of the legal online market in France reached €758 million in the first half of the year, which is 8% more than in the same period of 2019.

Multimillion jackpot owner has not been found in the UK

Until now the winner of Euromillions lottery has not shown up in the UK having won a jackpot of £57.9 million. It was reported by the local media.

If the jackpot owner does not provide the winning ticket to organizers until September 13, the money will go for charity.

Euromillions lottery drew the multimillion jackpot on March 17 this year. The ticket with the winning combination was purchased in Scotland, South Ayrshire, in one of the Camelot national lottery shops.

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