Regulation round-up 17 May 2016
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (11 May to 17 May 2016)
Polish government sketches out new gambling framework
Vice Prime Minister confirms plans to adopt a 20% tax rate on GGR and regulate online poker
The Polish government this week confirmed plans to tax operators at 20% on gross gaming revenues (GGR) as the country edges closer to adopting a new regulatory framework.
Vice Prime Minister Jaros??aw Gowin on Sunday revealed the impending draft bill would see the end of the current turnover-based 12% tax on sports betting in favour of one derived from revenues.
Speaking at a press conference alongside the president of the Polish Football Federation, Gowin said the intention of regulation would be to boost funding for Polish sport and to reduce the size of the grey market.
“We want Poland in this sphere to prevail with normality and common sense,” the vice Prime Minister said.
France sets new record for sports betting stakes in Q1
French online sports betting stakes reached ?516m in Q1, growing 47% year-on-year and marking the highest turnover in a quarter since the market opened up in 2010.
French regulator ARJEL, which released the figures last Monday, attributed the surge to a 34% increase in weekly active accounts.
The growth of the player pool was itself spurred by aggressive marketing and acquisition tactics by operators as the amount of bonuses handed to players increased by 75% year-on-year.
Seven days in regulation:
Spanish online market grows by a third
Spain’s online gaming revenues grew by a third during Q1 2016 after another strong sportsbook performance and the recent addition of slots to the casino vertical.
According to figures released by the country’s regulator, Direcci?n General de Ordenaci?n del Juego, total gross gaming revenues in the quarter were ?102.3m, up 32% on the same period last year.
Sportsbook remained the biggest grossing vertical, making up 57% of the total market with revenues of ?58.7m, up 29% year-on-year and 10% sequentially.
New Jersey egaming revenues reach record high in April
New Jersey has posted its highest ever online gaming win after operators earned $17m in April, according to new figures from the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).
The $17m figure was a 33.8% leap on last year and also marked a 10% increase from March 2016 – itself a record-setting month – making April the fourth month in a row with a new online gaming record.
Online gaming win for the first four months of the year now stands at $61.9m, a 29.3% year-on-year increase.
Missouri lawmakers pass DFS bill
Missouri lawmakers have passed a daily fantasy sports (DFS) bill, making the Midwestern state the sixth to license and regulate the activity.
The House passed the Missouri Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act by 130 votes to 13 on Thursday, joining the Senate in its approval.
The bill will now be sent to Governor Jay Nixon who is expected to sign it into law, having called for DFS regulation in his State of the State address.
DFS “indistinguishable from betting”, US Congress hears
Daily fantasy operators (DFS) were called out in Congress for their alleged “hypocrisy” in claiming to offer games of skill while also applying for UK gambling licenses.
At a hearing held by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Hearing, Congressman Frank Pallone criticized DFS operators for their stance on games of skills versus chance, before also calling out the leagues who backed DFS but not betting.
“I must also mention the hypocrisy of those arguing that daily fantasy sports is readily distinguishable from traditional sports betting,” said Pallone in his opening statement.