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EurAsia

Georgia rethinks online gambling ban plan

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The Republic of Georgia appears to be backing away from threats to impose a total ban on online gambling.

 

In September, Georgian media reported that the country’s parliamentarians were pressing the government to make online gambling explicitly illegal, while more sober minds at the Ministry of Finance explained that such a stance was not only impractical but virtually impossible to enforce.

More recent reports suggest that the government plans to permit online gambling to continue but gamblers would be required to register with the country’s tax service in order to access gambling sites. The aim of this registry appears to be to ensure that online gamblers are at least 21 years of age.

Like many other nations, Georgia’s government appears split on the desire to restrict online gambling’s reach while ensuring the state earns its share of gambling revenue. Georgian MP Levan Gogichaishvilirecently complained that the government is missing out on potential annual tax revenue of GEL 200m (US $80.6m) on the money that currently flows out of the country to internationally licensed online gambling operators catering to Georgian punters.

Georgia imposed new gambling tax rules as of January 1, 2017 that doubled tax rates on casino, gaming hall, betting shop and online gambling revenue from 5% to 10%, while fixed fees on individual gaming tables and slot machines also increased.

The net result of these hikes was a return to the government of $58.4m in the first half of 2017, one-third more than the government’s gambling tax take in all of 2016. There are an estimated 138 gambling companies of all stripes currently authorized to do business in Georgia.

Some government sources estimate that 500k Georgians enjoy an occasional online flutter, which seems a bit high, given the country’s population is less than 4m. Locally licensed online operators include Adjarabet, Iveriabet and the Georgian state lottery.

In general, Georgia has been taking a dimmer view of gambling’s impact on society. In 2015, the Ministry of Defense announced that servicemen and women could face immediate dismissal for excessive gambling. The government meted out gambling-related punishments against 15 military personnel last year, and another 11 so far in 2017.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

casino

Primorye still waits for casino plots bid

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Primorsky Krai Development Corp says it has yet to receive any official bid for plots earmarked for casino development up for auction in the Primorye casino development area, near Vladivostok in Russia.

Primorsky Krai Development launched in July a total of three independent auctions for land in Primorye that is earmarked for casino development. The initial deadline for applications was August 28, but the company extended the time limit for submission of bids until Thursday (September 28). It said at the time that the decision was made to provide potential bidders with more time to prepare their proposals.

We held on-site activities to demonstrate the potential of the … lands,” said the company at the time, mentioning interest from firms based in Russia, China, South Korea and several European countries. Aside from providing potential bidders with more time to prepare their proposals, the firm said it would also use the additional time “to attract new investors”.

We have not received applications yet [for the land auctions] but our headquarters are staying in touch with investors and companies,” – said Primorsky Krai Development spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that Primorsky Krai Development representatives were scheduled to meet today (Monday) with executives from a Russian company potentially interested in participating in the land auction.

The Primorye casino development area is located 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Russia’s Pacific port of Vladivostok. Primorsky Krai Development is a government-owned company overseeing the development of the Primorye area.

Andrey Folomeev, general director of Primorsky Krai Development, told GGRAsia in August that, according to a report prepared by consultancy Ernst & Young for Primorsky Krai Development, the Primorye casino development area is expected to generate annual gross gaming revenue of US$2.2 billion by 2025. Mr Folomeev also said at the time that Primorsky Krai Development had received enquiries from Russian and international firms about the plots up for auction in the Primorye casino development area.

The only company that has so far built a casino in that area is Hong Kong-listed Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd. It opened phase one of its Tigre de Cristal resort in autumn 2015.

Hong Kong-listed casino operator and developer NagaCorp Ltd had a ground breaking ceremony on its Primorye site in May 2015. Company chairman Tim McNally said recently that the firm was still anticipating to open the property in the first half of 2019.

A third investor, Diamond Fortune Holdings Ltd, reportedly began earlier this year ground preparation for its first casino resort in Primorye. The firm plans to open the first stage of the project – named Selena World Resort and Casino – in 2019.

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Armenia

The first Armenian Gaming Forum will take off on November 19

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Armenia is a country with long gambling history. Here it’s legal and making progress, advancing the economy and civilized gaming methods. But investors, businessman and software developers need a common floor for sharing the experience, ideas and innovations.

The first Armenian Gaming Forum organized by Smile-Expo will become an important event for everyone involved into gambling. On the 19 of November, Erevan will gather casino and poker clubs equipment manufacturers, betting software developers, payment systems representatives, as well as interested investors.

Conference topics

  • Armenian gambling business: investment climate analysis.
  • Legislative changes review and compliance practices in Armenia.
  • Business and authorities relations.
  • Attraction of potential players.
  • How to develop a startup and launch your own business.
  • Necessary requirements for opening a casino or a club.
  • Modernization of lotteries and their promotion.
  • How to get the investor interested in funding the casino.
  • Influence of currency rates on the amount of bets.
  • Existing Bitcoin casino market analytics: forecasts and prospects.
  • Affiliate marketing as a revenue source for online casino.

As part of the conference, all visitors would be able to see the demo zone with presentations of the latest innovations related to ‘classical’ online gambling.

Demo zone at Armenian Gaming Forum 2015 is a possibility for participant companies to demonstrate their products to potential customers and investors. Best manufacturers and providers of equipment for casino, poker clubs and gaming machine rooms would be able to establish contacts with management of corporate consumers. Solutions optimized for mobile devices and social networks will be showcased as part of the forum.

Business tour will complete the forum and demo zone as a separate event taking place on November 20.

After getting introduced with the most successful casinos in the state, guests will find out how the Armenian gambling business is organized, discovering the real operation mechanisms at these venues. Tour participants will find out the backstage secrets of casinos: the program includes personal meetings with business owners and CEOs.

Business tour involves useful contacts and an atmosphere driving cooperation negotiations.

Make the next step to success at the rapidly developing Armenian gambling market! Don’t miss Armenian Gaming Forum 2015 on November 19, in Erevan.

There will be lots of guests and interesting speakers, follow our news!

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Conferences

EveryMatrix – Silver Sponsor of Gaming Congress Kazakhstan

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Dear friends! The company EveryMatrix will be the silver sponsor of Gaming Congress Kazakhstan. The event will be held on August 20 in Almaty, in the hotel Royal Tulip Almaty, and will bring together leading experts of gambling industry. Visit the conference website for more details.

EveryMatrix is an independent company that offers successful software solutions in online gaming. It was founded in 2008 with the aim of creating fully flexible software solutions for operators. Today, the company has offices throughout Europe, Asia and North America, provides personalized solutions, including sports betting service:

  • – OddsMatrix (over 14 000 live events every month);
  • – CasinoEngine (the largest content aggregator of the casino market with more than 2,000 games from more than 30 suppliers);
  • – GamMatrix (the largest platform for managing games and processing of payments);
  • – PartnerMatrix (complete solution as for partners and controlling agents).

EveryMatrix aims to be a provider of software to change the rules in iGaming industry.

Within the framework of Kazakhstan Gaming Congress, the participants will be able to get familiar with the products of EveryMatrix, communicate with specialists, ask them questions.

Gaming Congress Kazakhstan is the first event, dedicated to gambling. The purpose of the event is to stimulate the development of both the land-based sector and online gambling. The event will be useful to visit for all professionals who seek successful business development. According to the program, there will be a conference, an area with product demonstrations and a business tour around the best casinos of Kapchagai.

Subscribe to our news and hurry up to buy invitations for the event.

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