Latest News From the Gambling Industry: What Happened in Ukraine, Poland, the Netherlands and Bermudas

What Ukrainian companies have received licenses for gambling business? Details in the draft decision approved by CRGL on the description of the player's identification card. How the Netherlands combat illegal online gambling operators? The procedure for adopting the gambling legislation in Bermudas. Read more about the latest events from the gambling industry in our weekly digest!

Three more licenses for gambling business issued in Ukraine

The Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL) issued two licenses to VBET Ukraine: the first gives the right to conduct online poker, and the second – to operate in an online casino. Gambling platforms will operate under the VBET brand.

Solo Games company registered in Dnipro received a license to open slot machine halls in three premises located in Kharkiv, Rivne and Lviv at Kiroff, Ukraina and Astoria hotels, respectively. They will operate under the Solo Ray brand.

Earlier, the People's Deputy of Ukraine Daniil Getmantsev said that the issuance of 19 gambling licenses gave the country's budget UAH 730 million. He noted that this is significantly less than provided in the budget column on income from the gambling business. Therefore, the parliamentarian noted the importance of adopting the bill No. 2317-d on taxation of the gambling business.

The regulator has already issued 22 licenses to operators to conduct gambling activities.

CRGL approved the draft decision on the approval of the description of the player's identification card

The document approved by the gambling regulator features details about the form of the player's card, its design, as well as the information that must be filled in.

In particular, the draft decision provides that the player's card blank shall be made in the form of an ID-1 format plastic card with a size of 54 × 85.6 mm. It may contain a contactless electronic carrier that meets all the established requirements with the information about the gambler: a digitized face image, full name, date of birth.

It is assumed that the player's identification card will be electronically displayed in the mobile application of the organizer of gambling. In addition to personal data of a person, it must contain a barcode that can be scanned using special technical devices.

Gambling establishments in Poland resumed operations

On May 28, land-based casinos and slot machine halls began to receive visitors in Poland again. At the same time, a number of requirements apply at the venues: mandatory wearing of facemasks for employees and customers, a limited number of visitors –at least 15 sq. m premises per attendee.

Casinos and slot machine halls have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The liftoff of restrictions will be in effect until June 5. After that, depending on the epidemiological situation, a decision will be made about their cancellation or extension.

By the end of 2020, casino operators in Poland reported a decrease in income. The reason for this was the suspension of the work of gambling establishments associated with the pandemic.

Bermudas adopt bills on gambling and betting

The Bermuda Senate has supported three bills to regulate gambling, according to The Royal Gazette.

The first document “On Gambling” stipulates that the Gambling Commission will control the activities of bookmakers, casinos on cruise ships, lotteries and land-based casinos.

The bill on betting suggests that separate requirements will be introduced on the islands for operators doing business in the betting sector.

And the third document, “Regulation on bets” provides a basis for reimbursing the gambling commission for the costs of licensing operators and checking their activities.

The Netherlands to fight illegal online gambling operators

Gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has announced that it will fight illegal online gambling operators on the Dutch market. In particular, online casinos without local licenses and persons associated with them will be fined. In addition, the government issued warnings to websites that promote such platforms.

As reported by Login Casino, the regulator has already fined Raging Rhino licensed by Curacao with €440,000 for the fact that its website was available to citizens and offered links to services with gambling entertainment. Through May to July 2020, the operator processed more than 224 thousand transactions from players from the Netherlands.

In addition, KSA informed the companies aiming to legally provide services in the online segment of the gambling market that they must refrain from overly active advertising of their services. Otherwise, they may be subject to sanctions.

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