Developments in Online Gambling Regulations in European Union Indicate Radical Changes in 2020

Steady technological advancement has been a great influence on the online gambling sector. In the last two decades, several changes resulted in a better internet gambling experience. 

Italy and the UK have been the two countries to dominate the European iGaming market in the past years. By now, these two countries certainly reached their saturation points. Recent online gambling regulations in the European Union will certainly bring great changes that many will appreciate.

Online gambling regulations in the European Union will make a difference

The regulatory environment might seem a tangled mess, considering that online poker, sports betting, lotteries, horse racing and other games, each have their own rules and regulations. Moreover, it is a known fact that the legality of gambling has been constantly challenged in courts.

Quite a few countries have already decided to implement increased tax levied on iGaming operators. Italy is set to rise by 6% to 21% in October of this year. Certainly, the European iGaming market is one of the most lucrative in the world and the governments aim to generate significant tax revenues from such a huge constantly expending industry.

There are changes regarding online bingo

Italy is one of the latest European Union members to imply online bingo. What is more, licensees recently got a chance to add a host of bingo variations to their products. And that makes quite a difference! Earlier, the protocol prevented gambling brands from marketing bingo games and diversifying their games’ libraries accordingly.

Most recently, the world’s leading gaming firm Playtech has announced to launch its expanded bingo platform in Italy, through collaboration with Sisal, William Hill, and Snai brands.

Also, Italian regulators have introduced an updated protocol to authorize operators of online bingo variants. Not only this, but these iterations will also be available across an array of platforms, namely HTML5 desktop, mobile clients. iOS, Android native apps. So, most likely this may enable brands across Europe to target the online bingo audience in Italy.

Sweden and the Netherlands enjoy considerable liberalization

Traditionally, Sweden had the rule to enable only domestic brands to operate nationwide. However, the approach was kind of a limitation on the nation’s market. So, on January 1st, these barriers vanished. Licensing applications are available to operators from all over the world. On the other hand, online gambling sites in Sweden may target their audience in other European markets.

As the number of the restricted games were quite high in Sweden, a growing number of users were registering to online casino sites in the European Union. After all, liberalizing the market would correct its imbalance. iGaming will most certainly thrive whilst allowing the government to obtain the standard tax on commercial gaming of 18%.

The Dutch market is moving away from the government monopoly as well. Finally, new legislation will open up the market to trusted international operators. Now more than ever, we can expect a truly competitive environment for gambling in the Nordic country. After all, the country is planning to allow international providers to obtain licenses by mid-2020.

Internet gambling made legal in Belarus

A bill recently introduced by the Belarus Minister of Taxes and Levies to make internet gambling legal just passed. The legal age of casino players is now raised from 18 to  21. Also, new players first need to pass an identification test. Indeed, that is an important step forward responsible gambling. Also, operators are free to apply for a valid license due to the implemented changes.

From now on, according to the new decree, now it is legal to start and develop:

• betting offices
• online casinos
• slot machine rooms
• land-based casinos and sweepstakes in the country.

On the other hand, operators are able to conduct online:

• card games
• bingo
• slots
• roulettes
• and accepting bets online

In addition, international gambling websites will be blocked by April 1, 2021. That means players from Belarus will not be able to gamble on foreign websites.

2019 is an exceptional year in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Internet gambling is not a new thing within the Czech Republic. Good news, that existing Gambling Act that passed in 1990 will be now modified. Eventually, internet gambling might get to its true potential. Fully licensed international operators will have access to the market.

Online gambling rules agree that internet gambling regulations were quite harsh in Slovakia. The current online gambling laws in Slovakia was adopted in 2005 and caused several unlawful evictions of gambling ventures. Indeed, some of the biggest names in the gambling industry appeared on the blacklist.

Still, European iGaming market is one of the most lucrative in the world. And so, developments in online gambling laws in the European Union have been long-awaited. Most likely, the shift will result in a more productive gambling sector.