Publication date: 02 Apr 2024
The first month of Spring 2024 has come and gone, but it has brought plenty of good news from the betting and gambling industry! The development of regulated markets continues and gambling is on the rise around the world!
Belgium continues the development of regulated gambling and increases its control over it:
- From 1 September 2024, the minimum age for players will be 24 (currently 18);
- A ban on free bets, bonuses and gifts will be introduced
- A ban on all forms of advertising: it will be illegal to encourage or incentivize players, or to place information on sites offering sports betting, bingo or poker.
Georgia is also tightening controls on gambling. From 1 July 2024, the annual fee (equivalent to a license) for online casinos will be $1.7 million. At the same time, the tax on customer withdrawals will increase to 6% (currently 2%).
After the introduction of these measures, the country’s authorities plan to receive an additional $150.7 million per year. By the end of 2023, the turnover of the gambling industry in Georgia increased by 14% and amounted to $19.2 billion.
In March 2024, India tightened control over gambling and betting advertising. Officially, all forms of gambling are banned in the country, but only recently has the law on penalties been passed. Residents of India now face a fine of 12 to 60 thousand dollars and up to 5 years in prison for advertising sports betting or casino games. And this in the middle of the Indian Premier Cricket League!
In addition, on 1 April 2024, new rules for the operation of payment systems will come into force in India. All QR codes used for online payments will have to be signed. The payment will then have to be authorized by a bank, which will check that it meets the business purpose.
March is over and we’re looking to the future:
In Italy, work continues on a new gambling decree. In March, the Ministry of Economy and Finance began to coordinate the federal law with representatives of 20 autonomous regions and a hundred municipalities – such is the political peculiarity of the country.
Recall that the new gambling law in Italy was approved in early 2024. It is planned to establish a public council in the country, the cost of a license will increase 35 times, the rules of gambling advertising will be further tightened.
The gambling market in Kazakhstan is developing rapidly and has already reached $2.2 billion. According to unofficial data from one of the deputies, 400 thousand citizens (about 2% of the country’s population) are regular gamblers in the country.
In March 2024, the Majilis Committee on Social and Cultural Development held a presentation of draft laws on amendments and additions to some legislative acts on gambling issues. The developers prepared more than 50 amendments to 2 codes and 7 laws.
According to the new law of Kazakhstan on gambling it is planned to
- Increase the minimum age of gamblers to 25 years;
- Ban any kind of games for citizens from the register of debtors;
- Tighten the rules for advertising bookmakers and sweepstakes;
- Introduce criminal liability for the organization of online casinos;
- Introduce administrative liability for the involvement of minors and self-excluded persons in gambling.
China is also trying to control its citizens’ participation in gambling outside the country. In March, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore issued a statement warning its citizens to stop betting in the city-state as it does not comply with the country’s laws. Similar warnings have been issued by Chinese embassies in South Korea and Sri Lanka.
Recall that under Chinese law, citizens are prohibited from gambling abroad.
In Peru, in the first month of legal gambling, 145 applications were made for online licenses!
Let us remind you that under the new Peruvian gambling law (the new rules are in force since February 2024):
- The cost of the license has increased 3 times and amounts to 804 thousand dollars;
- 60% of the taxes will go to the national budget, to the development of Peruvian sports and to the Ministry of Mental Health. The rest of the sum will be used for the development of online gambling regulation in Peru.
In March, Russia distinguished itself with a unique initiative: advertising of offshore bookmakers may be allowed here. So far, such an opportunity is provided only during the World Friendship Games. Foreign bookmakers will have to comply with the Russian law on advertising and have a license from another country.
Thailand moves closer to legalizing casinos! In March, a study was presented by the Thai House of Representatives Committee to assess the feasibility of legalizing casinos in the country. According to officials, the gaming industry could “generate huge revenues for the country.
The Philippines is drafting a bill that would impose a fine of up to £500,000 and imprisonment of up to 3 years on those who promote online gambling.
The new document, No. 2602, directs the Department of Justice to issue an order restricting access to online content that promotes gambling and the National Telecommunications Commission to enforce the law.
Internet service providers must comply with the blocking orders within 48 hours of their issuance.
Montenegro is in the process of amending the law regulating gambling, which came into force in early 2024. The country now has a ban on gambling in foreign online casinos and bookmakers. Payments to unlicensed operators are prohibited, and within the country to pay for sports betting exclusively offline – in special locations. These changes have caused controversy, and a petition to repeal the law has been submitted to the Parliament of Montenegro.
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