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Pennsylvania legislator justified high betting taxes

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Rep. Robert Matzie,  the Pennsylvania legislator who played a big role in drafting the sports betting legislation of the state, said the number of sports betting applicants and their eagerness to start business justify the high taxes imposed in the legislation.

As per the state’s legislation, the betting companies will have to part with 36 per cent of their earnings as tax. Still, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) received sports betting license applications from Hollywood Casino and Parx , committing the $10 million fee.

As far as state is concerned that’s enough to prove that the exorbitant 36 per cent sports betting tax rate is not too high for the market to bear.

Matzieis understandably jubilant: “Since the dominoes have begun to fall with the two filings, I think it’s inevitable the rest will also,”

Matzie was the sponsor of the original legislation that led to state-regulated sports betting in Pennsylvania.

Voters have something to thank him for, but the sports betting companies may not be quite so enthusiastic.

They will be hoping that over time, PA lawmakers will revisit the tax issue and bring taxes into line with those in Nevada (6.75 per cent) or New Jersey (8 per cent in casinos and racetracks, 12 per cent for online sports betting).

Matzie isn’t offering any support for their position: “I thought all along it was a non-starter to open anything up [in terms of the tax rate], and I think this pretty much puts the nail in the coffin.”

Matzie originally had the sports betting tax rate at 18 per cent, the same as the table games rate. After further examination, the rate was simply doubled because sports betting was considered to be more similar to slots, which are taxed at 54 per cent.

Matzie should not be too quick to gloat over casinos paying the high tax rate. The enthusiasm of casinos to apply for sports betting licenses doesn’t mean that the high taxes are workable for them.

If the experience of regulated sports betting in Europe is a guide, then the short-term future does not look good.

After five years of regulated sports betting in France, only three sports betting operators had managed to make a profit in any quarter. France has taxes that are roughly at the same level as Pennsylvania.

Players also react to high taxes.

In France, around 40 per cent of sports bettors ignore the nationally regulated sites to play at unregulated sites which offer better odds. In Portugal, which has taxes set at 16 per cent of sports betting handle, the figure is even worse.

A report from Copenhagen Economics states that only 52 per cent of online gambling in Portugal takes place at nationally regulated sites.

In the UK and Denmark which have 15 per cent and 20 per cent tax rates respectively, only a few per cent of players play at unlicensed sites.

The knock on effect is significant. Copenhagen Economics found that state tax revenues start to reduce when taxes get over 20 per cent.

The 36 per cent rate in Pennsylvania may look good to lawmakers, but state budget accountants would not be as impressed.

 

Source: playpennsylvania.com


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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.

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Aristocrat Leisure Completes Acquisition of Neo Group Ltd. (f/k/a NeoGames) for $29.50 per Share

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Neo Group Ltd. (formerly known as NeoGames S.A.), announced today that Aristocrat Leisure Limited, an entertainment and content creation company delivering world-leading mobile and casino games, has completed the previously announced acquisition of all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Neo for $29.50 per share in an all-cash transaction, representing an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion for Neo.

“We are excited to have successfully closed this transaction and joined forces with the Aristocrat team to further drive our success across iLottery, iGaming, and online sports betting,” said Moti Malul, Chief Executive Officer of Neo. “We firmly believe that this Transaction represents a great outcome for all of Neo’s shareholders, customers and employees. We are very grateful to all our stakeholders who have supported us since our inception. I would also like to thank all our employees for their commitment in making Neo the great company it is today.”

The transaction was announced on May 15, 2023.

The post Aristocrat Leisure Completes Acquisition of Neo Group Ltd. (f/k/a NeoGames) for $29.50 per Share appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Wazdan pounces for bigger wins in new sequel Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Gold Edition

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Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, is multiplying jackpots in the follow-up to its top-performing game Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Gold Edition.

Venturing to the depths of the jungle where a black panther rules the reels on a 5×3 gameboard, the new edition provides even larger win potential. With the increased value of the Cash symbols and Cash Infinity™ symbols, there is also a more lucrative Grand Jackpot of 1500x the base bet.

Players can trigger either the Hold the Jackpot™ or Wild Rampage™ bonus rounds after landing at least six bonus symbols. Furthermore, Chance Level™ has been amplified to improve players’ chances of hitting the bonus round.

Bolstering the ferocious Wild Rampage™ bonus game, Mystery Symbols transformed into jackpots are multiplied by a value between 1x to 10x, providing the opportunity for even bigger rewards.

Wazdan’s Online gaining™ philosophy empowers players to tailor gameplay to their preferred style through customisable features like Volatility Levels™, Buy Feature, and Ultra Fast Mode which has delivered proven results for its partners.

Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Gold Edition features an exciting new lair through the inclusion of transforming mystery symbols, adding multiplier prizes to jackpots.

“Enhancing the gameplay of a pre-established hit allowed us to expand upon the engagement and entertainment on offer and we anticipate a great reception to this release.”

The post Wazdan pounces for bigger wins in new sequel Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Gold Edition appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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PRAGMATIC PLAY DELIVERS BRAND NEW DEDICATED LIVE STUDIO FOR BETSSON

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Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, has expanded its partnership with Betsson Group to deliver an exclusive dedicated Live Casino studio featuring a mix of premium Blackjack and Roulette tables.

Incorporating all the fan-favourite features of Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino games, including multiplayer mode, chat functionality, and bet behind, the nine custom-built tables have been uniquely crafted to immerse players in the Betsson Group brands.

In total, eight new dedicated Blackjack tables and one new Roulette table will be broadcast from the custom-built live studio, every detail of which has been designed to Betsson’s precise requirements.

It is the latest dedicated studio to be delivered by Pragmatic Play, whose operator partners can also use Smart Studio to customise elements of the Live Casino titles to produce bespoke environments that showcase their brands.

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “Delivering a dedicated studio for Betsson marks another milestone for Pragmatic Play’s award-winning Live Casino offering. Betsson is a much-valued partner, and we are delighted to provide them with an immersive live environment that is fully dedicated to their brand.”

Chellyanne Cassar, Live Casino Manager at Betsson Group, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Pragmatic Play to ensure delivery of a bespoke dedicated studio, where we can showcase our brand-new Blackjack and Roulette tables.

“The partnership highlights our shared commitment to delivering unparalleled gaming experiences, and we’re thrilled with the final results of the studio.”

The post PRAGMATIC PLAY DELIVERS BRAND NEW DEDICATED LIVE STUDIO FOR BETSSON appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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