iGaming Regulations in USA and Europe- Retrospective for March 2021

Once again, the United States was the busiest territory in terms of regulation, as multiple states either accepted or are steps closer to introducing online and/or sports betting. Europe was a bit less dynamic than in the previous period, but some significant changes took place in Germany and Ukraine.

This report brings valuable insight from multiple states of the US, among which Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Georgia, Arizona, and more. Also, it will introduce you to the most significant changes from multiple markets in Europe.

Keep reading!

Louisiana, Florida, Connecticut, and Missouri Overview

Let’s start with Louisiana, where the Gaming Control Board began the licensing process for daily fantasy sports operators wishing to target the state. In Florida, legislation was presented to both the House and Senate to approve retail and online sports betting. The bills would permit tribal and non-tribal facilities, professional sports teams, and pari-mutuel betting facilities to offer sports wagering at a tax rate of 22.5%.

As for Connecticut…

…Governor Ned Lamont and Mohegan Tribe Chairman James Gessner Jr have reached an agreement that permits online gaming and sports wagering in Connecticut.

According to the Terms, the license will be valid for an initial ten-year term with an option to extend it for additional five years. Also, it sets a tax rate of 20% for online gaming and 13.75% on sports wagering. However, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is not included in the agreement.

Missouri had quite a dynamic month…

…as Representative Wes Rogers presented legislation to allow and regulate retail and online sports betting. The bill would permit wagering via the state’s 13 casinos, taxed 6% of the gross win for both retail and online channels.

Moreover, Representative Dan Houx introduced legislation to authorize and regulate retail and online sports wagering as well as online gaming. As per the bill, the state’s 13 casinos would be permitted to offer retail and online betting as well as online casino gaming and poker via three skins. The proposed tax rate for sports betting was set at 6.75% of gross wins and 12% for online gaming.

Georgia, Maryland, Arizona, Kansas & Tennessee Highlights

It seems that the situation in Georgia is advancing as well, as sports betting bills, SB142 and SB135 were passed by the Senate and sent to the House for consideration. SB142 would permit six online sportsbooks in the state and impose a 10% tax on the gross win but without permitting bets on in-state collegiate sports. SB135 would place a question on the November 2022 statewide ballot asking the public whether to greenlight sports betting in Georgia.

Meanwhile in Maryland…

…legislation was introduced to the House to authorize retail and mobile sports betting. The bill, HB940, provided for 13 retail licenses and 10 mobile licenses. As stated, a tax rate of 15% of gross win would be set, with an additional rate of 2.5% for any mobile revenue over $5m yearly.

The House approved the legislation to regulate retail and mobile sports betting which progressed to the Senate for consideration. Before it was made official, several amendments were made to the bill, which now permits 15 mobile licenses and 22 retail licenses (with 10 reserved for incumbent gambling stakeholders).

In Arizona…

…sports betting bill, HB2772, was passed by the House and sent to the Senate for consideration. This bill aims to authorize retail and online wagering as well as daily fantasy sports games through the state’s 24 tribal casinos.

Kansas is one step closer to legalize retail and online sports betting in the state, as the Senate passed legislation (SB84). The bill was sent to the House for consideration. Tennessee welcomes two online sports betting platforms- William Hill (introduced March 11), and Churchill Downs (rolled out March 18).

What Happened in Wyoming, Texas, South Dakota, and New York?

Legislation to allow online sports betting in Wyoming (HB133) was voted down by the House following its third reading in the chamber. As the House voted 32-28 against the bill, it was withdrawn from the legislative process.

Texas was rather busy…

…as Representative Dan Huberty presented legislation to permit sports wagering in the state. The bill, HB2070, would place a question on the 2021 November statewide ballot to legalize this activity. Also, the bill proposes a 10% tax on sports betting gross wins.

Furthermore, legislation was introduced to the House and Senate to legalize casinos and sports betting. Before being put on the 2021 November statewide ballot, the legislation, HJR133, and SJR49 must be approved by a majority of two-thirds in the legislature. To be added to the ballot, the bill must pass the legislature by 31 May 2021.

As for South Dakota…

…regulations to govern sports wagering in the State were approved by the legislature and sent to Governor Kristi Noem for final approval. If greenlighted, the regulations would allow retail and on-premise online sports betting via the commercial casinos in Deadwood and tribal casinos across the state. Also, the activity would be taxed at a rate of 9% of the gross win.

In New York, the Assembly included proposals to regulate mobile sports betting in its 2021-2022 budget. As suggested, the activity would be allowed through the state’s four commercial casinos and three tribal venues at a tax rate of 12% of the gross win. Also, the Senate passed problem gambling education bill.

New Jersey, Illinois, Alberta, Idaho, and North Carolina Recap

FanDuel launched its retail sportsbook at Bally’s Atlantic City Casino in New Jersey on 15 March 2021. The same operator rolled out its second retail sportsbook in Illinois on 15 March at the former Fairmont Park Racetrack.

As for Alberta…

…the AGLC announced it would launch six live-dealer casino games, provided by Evolution, via its interactive gaming and lottery platform PlayAlberta.ca. This would be expanded to a wider range of games in the coming months.

As for Idaho, the State Lottery awarded a two-year contract to Scientific Games to provide instant games with the option to extend it for six years. Finally, in North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened retail sportsbooks at its two land-based parlors on 17 March. The sportsbooks at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino were done in cooperation with William Hill.

Retrospective from Multiple European Countries

Let’s start with the United Kingdom, the BGC came up with new rules to prohibit sports teams from including links to gambling websites or “calls to action” on non-promoted social media posts. Moreover, UK media and data minister John Whittingdale has taken responsibility for the Government review of the 2005 Gambling Act, in a reshuffle of the DCMS.

As for Germany…

…the Regional Council of Darmstadt announced it had awarded sports betting licenses to Betway and Wegame (inc. Betsson and Betsafe brands). To date, the total number of licenses awarded amounts to 27. In Finland, Veikkaus announced that 28,400 individuals had registered on the country’s self-exclusion register. The operator reported that 97% of all registrations included the exclusion of online gambling.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, the Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State ruled in favor of the KSA and its right to award a sole-operator license for the state lottery in the country. The case was brought by some gambling operators who claimed the monopoly was unjustified having in mind the multiple license system in place for smaller charitable lotteries.

Russia and Ukraine Overview

New advertising regulations came into force in Russia, requiring social networks and other related platforms to exclude advertisements for any prohibited activities, including unlicensed gambling sites.

In Ukraine…

…the Tax, Finance and Customs Committee approved tax legislation to impose a uniform tax on all gambling of 10% of the gross win. Operators will also be liable to pay the general corporate tax rate of 18% and customer’s winnings above UAH48k will be liable for income tax. The bill was submitted to Parliament for consideration.

However, Ukraine’s parliament failed to pass the necessary legislation to fully establish a commission to regulate. Before the new gambling market can be rolled out, the parliament must pass agree on both this and the previously introduced tax legislation.

Source:

"H2 Gambling Capital", March 2021