PartyPoker returns to 21 new online gambling markets including jurisdictions it exited as part of its “volume to value” strategy.
PartyPoker has begun operating in a number of new national markets after GVC Holdings completed its deal to buy bwin.party.
Bwin’s online poker room has written to affiliates asking them to estimate the number of first time depositors they anticipate in each market.
New sign-ups from 18 countries in EU and South America served by bwin.Party were blocked in April 2013. The decision was likely a mix of regulatory concern and simple cost analysis. The remaining countries may represent markets either too small or simply unprofitable for bwin.party to maintain operations in.
Many EU countries on the list curbed or prohibited online poker such as Greece, Poland, Romania, Cyprus and Hungary. Finland and Serbia, on the other hand, had a small regulated online poker markets.
South American countries — Argentina, Brazil and Colombia — were also blocked same with three former Soviet Republics Armenia, Belarus and the Ukraine.
Many of the markets that PartyPoker is re-entering are expected to introduce online poker licensing systems such as Colombia, which opened a consultation on launching a regulated online gambling market. Brazil has approved a legislative attempt to legalize online sports betting, casino and bingo games last year.
Bwin.party group head of partypoker and Cashcade Tom Waters confirmed the news to EGR, saying that it had re-opened in a “limited number of regulated territories” following a “thorough review” of PartyPoker’s operations.
“Along with other operators in the industry, we do accept gameplay from customers based in yet to be regulated territories where customers are not prevented from accessing online gaming products,” said Waters. “We have re-opened registration for a number of markets and could potentially look to do more if the commercials support it.”
Showing posts with label Hungary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hungary. Show all posts
February 05, 2016
April 24, 2013
Bwin.party look to withdraw from 18 countries.
Bwin.party have announced they are blocking players from 18 countries within the EU and also South America. Those countries involved are Greece, Poland, Romania, Cyprus, Finland, Serbia, Armenia, Belarus, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil and finally Colombia.
The move was announced to affiliates by the company on an email on Friday 19th April.
On the email it said that from the 30th April no new singups will be accepted from those countries and also there was a request that all marketing material aimed at those countries be removed. However all existing accounts will remain open, and affiliate commission to those accounts will continue to be paid.
It is thought the move is connected with those countries mentioned looking to reduce or prohibit online gambling within their borders in the future along with the commercial aspect that those mentioned are small in operating value and allows bwin.party to focus their efforts on more lucrative markets such as the US and more recognised and profitable regions such as the UK and Spain.
The move was announced to affiliates by the company on an email on Friday 19th April.
On the email it said that from the 30th April no new singups will be accepted from those countries and also there was a request that all marketing material aimed at those countries be removed. However all existing accounts will remain open, and affiliate commission to those accounts will continue to be paid.
It is thought the move is connected with those countries mentioned looking to reduce or prohibit online gambling within their borders in the future along with the commercial aspect that those mentioned are small in operating value and allows bwin.party to focus their efforts on more lucrative markets such as the US and more recognised and profitable regions such as the UK and Spain.
February 06, 2013
Hungary’s online gaming regulation could create monopoly
The Hungarian government last week submitted its amended online gambling law to the European Commission, to ensure plans meet with Brussels’ approval. Regulations propose 20 percent annual tax and one-off licensing fees for operators, whilst players will be exempt from tax on their winnings.
Alongside the annual tax on gross profits, licensees would be required to pay a HUF100m (US $461k) concession fee for each type of game they could offer, which includes sports betting, card games, casino games, horse and greyhound racing.
Operators would also be required to pay a regulatory supervision fee equivalent to 2.5 percent of their net quarterly revenues, capped at HUF50m (US $230k). Licenses would be granted for five-year terms, but the huge financial barriers to market could prevent a healthy online gaming environment in the country.
To promote online gaming in Hungary, gamblers will be able to play tax-free and barriers will be put in place to limit illegal operations cutting into licensed businesses. The government intends to publish a list of unauthorised operators and ISPs would be authorised to block any unlicensed websites, facing fines if they don’t comply.
Whilst the EC needs to sign-off on the optimistic draft legislation that the government is hoping will raise HUF10bn (US $ 46m) in 2013, it could still take more than a year before any operator is licensed. Meanwhile, state-owned operator Szerencsejáték Zrt would be granted a license automatically and work on having its Lottomatica-powered Margin Maker product online in the coming months.
This appears to be a protectionist bill disguised as an open market bill, establishing guidelines and extortionate fees, but giving the government final decision on licensing rights. The EC is encouraging member-states to promote fair trade and analysts therefore suggest the bill will not be approved. However if it becomes law, the proposed licensing structure will enable the market to remain as a monopoly.
Budapest-based gambling lawyer Gábor Helembai said that as the government will decide the number of licenses and what products licensees will be allowed to offer, “presumably not many competitors (if any) will be allowed to operate in Hungary.”
“If the new regime is to be successful then it must offer appropriate regulation and a viable fiscal framework,” added Clive Hawkswood, Remote Gambling Association CEO, “The combination of the new gambling tax and an unrealistically high concession fee would frustrate entry to the Hungarian market.”
Alongside the annual tax on gross profits, licensees would be required to pay a HUF100m (US $461k) concession fee for each type of game they could offer, which includes sports betting, card games, casino games, horse and greyhound racing.
Operators would also be required to pay a regulatory supervision fee equivalent to 2.5 percent of their net quarterly revenues, capped at HUF50m (US $230k). Licenses would be granted for five-year terms, but the huge financial barriers to market could prevent a healthy online gaming environment in the country.
To promote online gaming in Hungary, gamblers will be able to play tax-free and barriers will be put in place to limit illegal operations cutting into licensed businesses. The government intends to publish a list of unauthorised operators and ISPs would be authorised to block any unlicensed websites, facing fines if they don’t comply.
Whilst the EC needs to sign-off on the optimistic draft legislation that the government is hoping will raise HUF10bn (US $ 46m) in 2013, it could still take more than a year before any operator is licensed. Meanwhile, state-owned operator Szerencsejáték Zrt would be granted a license automatically and work on having its Lottomatica-powered Margin Maker product online in the coming months.
This appears to be a protectionist bill disguised as an open market bill, establishing guidelines and extortionate fees, but giving the government final decision on licensing rights. The EC is encouraging member-states to promote fair trade and analysts therefore suggest the bill will not be approved. However if it becomes law, the proposed licensing structure will enable the market to remain as a monopoly.
Budapest-based gambling lawyer Gábor Helembai said that as the government will decide the number of licenses and what products licensees will be allowed to offer, “presumably not many competitors (if any) will be allowed to operate in Hungary.”
“If the new regime is to be successful then it must offer appropriate regulation and a viable fiscal framework,” added Clive Hawkswood, Remote Gambling Association CEO, “The combination of the new gambling tax and an unrealistically high concession fee would frustrate entry to the Hungarian market.”
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