Monthly Archives: February 2021

AAMS Casino the safe online casinos for Italian Players – European Gaming Industry News

Posted: February 22, 2021 at 2:37 pm

Reading Time: 4 minutes

After significant and protracted deliberations, Ukraine finally legalized gambling activities back in 2020. The Law on the governance of the organization and carrying out of gambling activities became effective almost half a year ago. As of the date of writing this article, already 3 licenses have been granted to online casinos for their gambling activities to be performed in the future.

There is still a number of issues and, despite all efforts, the gambling market seems to be standstill except for the mentioned minor movements by local online players obtaining licenses. As of now, it seems that no big international market players are entering the newly born Ukrainian gambling market. So, let`s discuss whether it is all going somewhere and if that somewhere is in the right direction.

Ukrainian gambling market background

To see a broader picture, one should unveil the historical background of the current gambling market legalization in Ukraine. First of all, its worth mentioning that the Ukrainian gambling market has been actually reopened, but not developed from scratch.

The previously operating Ukrainian gambling market was not so much a success story as one might imagine. There were no huge and fancy casinos like in Las Vegas, but rather a market consisting of different establishments, some of them even legal and compliant. They were shut down by decisive moves of the state authorities in 2009 due to the lack of comprehensive regulations and effective control over their execution, which irreversibly led to negative consequences. As a result, the mentioned flaws contributed to the growth of black and grey gambling services markets. Moreover, the lack of strict rules and their enforcement also formed a public opinion that the gambling market was something antisocial and dirty. Ukrainians still remember well those times when slot machine halls literally surrounded public transport stops and were filled with some not exactly wealthy people giving up their last money in pursuit of a snatch.

At that time, Ukrainian authorities decided to use muscles instead of brains and banned all gambling activities instead of introducing reasonable regulation and taking the situation under control. Thus, starting from mid-2009, all gambling operators were forced to leave the wild, but rapidly growing market. However, as one may guess, the Ukrainian gambling ban was not far from the Prohibition in the United States in terms of its results. Ukrainian gambling market simply went undercover, depriving the Ukrainian budget of significant contributions previously made by the industry.

What are the current challenges for the Ukrainian gambling market?

Not so long ago, a logical step was taken by Ukraine and the gambling activities ban was lifted. However, same as in the case with the Ukrainian land market, things are not perfectly smooth and there are still some obstacles in place.

For instance, while three online casinos have already paid for and received licenses, they still can`t fully realize and enjoy the rights of an online casino operator. The reason is that the necessary regulations applicable to certification of the equipment to be used in casinos haven`t been adopted yet. Additionally, there is still a certain lack of clarity in terms of taxation of gambling activities. Some say that a specific volume-based tax will be introduced. However, considering that the licensed operators can`t get any revenues in the absence of the regulations to certify their equipment, the issue of taxation seems to be too far to think about.

Apart from that, one should note that this time Ukrainian government decided to seriously take advantage of the gambling market by imposing comparatively high license fees, financial thresholds, and location requirements (for offline casinos). For instance, the license fee is around USD 1.1 million for online casinos (for 5 years) and USD 10 million for offline casinos if based in Kyiv (additional equipment fees will also apply). Moreover, a gambling operator must have a share capital of at least USD 1.1 million and a deposit account or Ukrainian bank guarantee for USD 1.2 million.

As to the location requirements, under the new legislation, casinos can be opened only at 5-star hotels with at least 150 rooms in Kyiv, 4- and 5-star hotels with at least 100 rooms in other regions, out-of-town resorts with a total area of at least 10,000 m2 or special gaming zones within territories to be further defined by the Ukrainian government.

Under the new law, various restrictive regulations of a similar character also apply to betting, slot machine halls, and online poker activities.

Opportunities and additional obligations for Ukrainian gambling operators

It is worth mentioning that there are some opportunities for the new market players. The new law provides that such players may obtain investment licenses. Holders of such licenses will be exempt from license fees for 10 years if they build a new 5-star hotel with at least 200 rooms in Kyiv or 150 rooms in another Ukrainian region.

Ukrainian gambling operators will be also obliged to follow certain gambling standards and policies aimed at preventing gambling addiction. The government plans to launch a state-owned online monitoring system. The system will perform a real-time oversight and control of the Ukrainian gambling industry.

To sum it all up, its an important aspect that different people might make different conclusions as to the above. Pessimists might claim that this time, the gambling market launch in Ukraine has little chance to become interesting for the largest international market players. However, if evaluated by opportunists, entering the Ukrainian gambling market is definitely worth a shot.

High financial thresholds and strict regulations ensure that the market will not slip into putting dirty slot machines centered around metro stations. It is more likely that the Ukrainian gambling industry will at least somehow resemble what one may observe in wealthy locations like Las Vegas. This puts confidence into the minds of potential investors because the government will not be in a position to cut its own leg by banning a well-governed and budget-supporting industry.

The readiness of the local online casino market players to pay for the licenses which can`t be yet used proves the above statement to be true. It also leads to a conclusion that gambling investors should already be on their way to Ukraine in order to be in a time when the market starts to operate and extreme profits flow into the hands of the few pioneers.

This article has been created with the help of Oleksandr Aleksyeyenko (Partner at Marchenko Partners) and Sviatoslav Henyk (Senior Associate at Marchenko Partners)

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AAMS Casino the safe online casinos for Italian Players - European Gaming Industry News

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PlayStar Casino: focusing on a new approach to the US gaming market – SBC Americas

Posted: at 2:37 pm

With two new deals recently signed a long-term agreement with GiG and a multi-year partnership with Ocean Casino Resort PlayStar Casino is making good headway towards its stated ambition to become a player-favorite in the US. We spoke with Co-Founder and Executive VP Adam Noble to find out more about the firms progress stateside.

By way of introduction to our readers, tell us about the PlayStar brand and its offer.

PlayStar Casino has been developed to offer an online casino experience like no other to players across the US. The team behind PlayStar Casino has a proven track record of building successful, disruptive businesses and we aim to replicate this with PlayStar Casino by launching the brand into regulated states across the US.

In order to compete in a competitive market, we know we need to bring something different to the table and that is what we plan to do with PlayStar Casino

How will the company differentiate itself in what is becoming a crowded marketplace?

In a market where all of your competitors are offering the same content and experience more or less, the differentiation has come down to strength of brand and of course very aggressive acquisition strategies.

With PlayStar Casino our focus will be to deliver value to the player, by putting personalization, engagement, and exemplary customer service at the heart of our proposition and this will allow us to differentiate in the market.

We want to deliver an engaging and immersive experience to players from the moment they walk through our digital doors, and to also reward them for choosing PlayStar Casino as their preferred online casino.

Other brands are not doing this to the same level that we have planned, so this will be a big point of difference between PlayStar Casino and our competitors.

How far down the line are you with the application for getting licensed in New Jersey and can you talk us through some of the challenges in going through that process?

In anticipation of securing market access, all key personnel and business entities have completed the application forms and prepared the necessary supporting documentation. The milestone for submission came with the signing of our market access agreement with Ocean Casino Resort we were able to submit to the DGE a few days after signing with Oceans, so we are in great shape there.

As far as challenges, I think an obvious one is not being able meet the regulator face to face in the current climate, but there are ways around that. And of course, the process in general is extremely rigorous, and so it should be given the nature of the business. We are prepared for that and look forward to working through the process with the DGE.

What were the biggest takeaways from your market research efforts in the US?

This was a really interesting process, we sort research far and wide, commissioning specific reports on the US and specifically New Jersey online casino markets, and referencing reports focused on broader consumer habits in the rapidly changing digital world we live in.

There were many takeaways, not least the number of operators in the market focused on acquiring market share at any cost for their own valuation, with less focus on value to their players.

This question is specific to Joel Wikell, Group Founder and Chairman. How different are things this time around from your experiences back in the 90s and is there anything you learned then that would apply to the business today?

Putting the technology aside for a moment, that has obviously advanced beyond comprehension, I believe the biggest difference is regulation. Back in the early days it really was the wild west, with little governance ensuring operators ran an honest operation. Todays regulatory environment ensures a safer environment for the player, which is paramount, but also for the security and stability of the business.

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Borgata Casino Pennsylvania FAQ – all the information you need ahead of the launch of Borgata Casino Pennsylvania. – Pokerfuse

Posted: at 2:37 pm

Although Borgata Casino is not available in Pennsylvania at this moment in time, its launch is imminent.

The parent company behind the Borgata online brand (Entain, formerly GVC Holdings) has already launched BetMGM PA offering casino games and sports betting, and they have the option to launch two more brands under the same license: Borgata PA and Party Casino PA.

In New Jersey, the company operates all three brands, BetMGM NJ, PartyCasino NJ, and Borgata NJ, so it stands to reason that Borgata Casino Pennsylvania will be joining the regulated state market in the near future.

While there is no exact information as to what players can expect once Borgata PA goes live, we can make some solid assumptions based on what the company offers in New Jersey and what is available on BetMGM PA, currently the only operational PA casino brand from Entain.

On this page, you will find a variety of useful information on what to expect once Borgata Casino PA goes live in terms of bonuses, available games, payment methods, etc. We will do our best to keep the page fresh and up to date as the actual launch date is revealed and more information becomes available.

The company is yet to give the exact timeframe for the launch, but we believe it will happen in February 2021.

What is important to note is that they already have the necessary license issued by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), so the legal side of the matter has already been resolved. At this point, it is the matter of the technical implementation and feasibility.

At the moment of writing this, the Borgata online brand specifically is available only in New Jersey. Of Entains brands, the most wide-spread is BetMGM, which offers online casino games in four US states, namely:

Looking at the NJ site, players in Pennsylvania can probably look forward to a welcome bonus package consisting of two parts. There should be a small no deposit offer to try the games with no risk involved, and a standard match bonus on the first deposit.

The free portion of the bonus should be available to the players after they complete the registration process and verify their identities. You will most likely be able to use this money to play all your favorite casino games without many restrictions, but when the time comes to cash out (if you get lucky), you will first need to deposit.

The other part of the welcome offer consists of a 100% match on your very first deposit. Borgata Casino PA will match your first deposit in full, up to the maximum of $600, giving you extra funds to play your favorite games and get acquainted with the site.

Of course, it is entirely possible that Borgata Casino Pennsylvania comes up with a different welcome offer when they announce the launch date. We are basing this information on what we know so far.

Borgata Casino NJ gives players a chance to participate in their M life Rewards program and players in Pennsylvania will likely enjoy the same benefits.

As you play online, you will collect valuable Tier points, which can be exchanged for cash and bonuses in the online store, but you can also use them at various land-based locations that belong to the same group.

M life Rewards program features four distinctive tiers, each one featuring better and more valuable rewards:

Looking at BetMGM PA and Borgata Casino NJ, PA casino players should have access to a decent selection of games from different categories.

Slots are the most popular gaming category at online casinos and players from Pennsylvania can look forward to a colorful portfolio once Borgata PA goes live. There will be a few hundred titles on offer, featuring popular games from the likes of IGT, NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, WIN Studios, Ainsworth, Everi, and more.

Games featuring a progressive jackpot always attract a lot of attention because of their potential to produce massive win regardless of the stakes played. Borgata Casino PA will likely offer a decent number of progressive slots like IGTs Cleopatra, NetEnts Mercy of the Gods, and WIN Studios titles such as Spin Bandit, Fire Drake, and The Win Genie.

Having partnered up with Evolution Gaming, the company offers an excellent range of live dealer games across its brands and Borgata PA will be no exception. Fans of live action should have access to games like roulette, blackjack, Casino Holdem, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Holdem, Dream Catcher, and more.

The selection of deposit and withdrawal options for the players at Borgata PA should be quite similar to what is available at BetMGM PA.

To fund your account, you will probably be able to use:

For withdrawals, the number of options is somewhat more limited:

As for the withdrawal process, all requests are subject to a security review. You can expect your request to be approved within 48 hours, but it can take longer, depending on the amount and whether or not there are any additional documents you might need to send over to the casino.

Since players from New Jersey can play from their phones with no problems, there is no reason to think anything will be different in Pennsylvania. The casino offers mobile apps for iOS and Android users alike and you should be able to download them from the relevant stores or straight from the Borgata site.

Whether you play from your computer or your phone, you will need to be physically present within the PA state borders to play for real money. The Wire Act currently prohibits online gambling operators from offering their services across state borders.

To make sure you are adhering to the laws, regulated casinos in the States use geolocation technologies. This means that you will likely have to allow location access to the Borgata Casino PA app when playing from your phone.

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Borgata Casino Pennsylvania FAQ - all the information you need ahead of the launch of Borgata Casino Pennsylvania. - Pokerfuse

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Slot machines: has online become the most popular way to play? – Mancunian Matters

Posted: at 2:37 pm

The global gambling market reached a value of $53.7 billion in 2019, having grown steadily for many years.

Forecasts suggest a compound annual growth rate of 11.5% between 2020 and 2027, with the online sector accounting for a significant proportion of this.

Increased internet penetration, coupled with advances in software making online gaming more like visiting a live casino, are drawing in thousands of new customers.

Slot machines have always been a huge part of the casino experience and in the US, slot machines account for an estimated 70% of casino revenue on average.

Anyone entering a casino can immediately see the percentage of floor space dedicated to slot machines, which is a testament to the popularity of the genre.

As gaming has moved further online, casino websites also dedicate much of their platform to the provision of a multitude of slots games, mimicking the layout of brick-and-mortar casinos.

There are even sites exclusively dedicated to slots games, appealing to the millions of people who enjoy fast-paced games of chance.

With more people than ever before playing online and new technologies allowing for greater realism, software designers are innovating online slots games that allow the user to experience the thrill of the casino from the comfort of their own homes.

The slot machine industry has a broad appeal, with myriad gaming options to attract almost every demographic.

Consumers can opt for simple, traditional three-reel games, themed versions featuring characters and scenes from popular culture, complex new variations, and more, all with top of the range graphics, immersive sounds, and impressive gameplay.

There are hundreds of slot games to choose from, with providers such as Wink Slots having a wide range of wink slot machines on offer to their players, all with different themes and winning jackpot prize amounts.

Anyone who has ever visited a casino in person will know what a huge role slots games play.

Online offers the same experience, but with the added convenience of being able to play from anywhere at any time, particularly with more online casinos now offering sites optimised for mobile.

Players who enjoy the concept of slot machines but either do not have easy access to a casino or prefer to play from home can now enjoy a huge variety of games wherever and whenever they wish.

Many players are attracted to online play because of tempting incentives such as new player bonuses, which allow free play with the potential to win real money or offer prizes and loyalty schemes for regular players to benefit from.

Many sites offer a certain number of free spins to new players and further free spins for those that play every day.

The catalogue of games is another attraction playing online means users have access to hundreds of variations, if not thousands, and can use their free spins to experiment with lots of different games to find the ones they prefer.

Of the reasons cited by people who prefer visiting a physical casino to playing online as to their preference, the atmosphere and, the interactions with other people are two of the most common.

Software developers making online games are now utilising technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, live chat, and artificial intelligence to recreate that experience online.

Gameplay has also advanced from the classic three-reel game to cascading slots with unique graphics and hundreds of ways to win.

Todays online slots players can sit virtually side by side with friends, converse with others while playing, and enjoy all the social aspects of visiting a casino from their homes, workplaces or anywhere in the world.

Online slot machines have penetrated social media, with free to play social slots games that provide a fun, interactive gaming experience with friends.

Software companies are increasingly working to mimic the physical casino experience in an online environment and the technology is improving all the time.

Different slot machines come with different variance levels, meaning there is something for everyone regardless of their tolerance for risk.

Low variance games typically pay out often, but in small increments and with smaller jackpots.

High variance game players may find themselves spinning for hours with rarely a winning combination, but the thrill of knowing that if they do hit the jackpot, the sum of money they win could be life-changing.

Progressive jackpot slots games offer players the opportunity to try and win prizes than can reach millions, should they be one of the lucky few to hit a winning combination.

Whichever variance level players prefer, the opportunity to make money while playing games is undoubtedly a large part of the appeal of slots games both online and off.

The current Guinness World Record for the largest ever single online slots payout stands at $20,057,734 for the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot game.

Visiting a physical casino can be an exciting event, form part of a celebration or holiday or simply something different to do on a night out.

People will always want to visit casinos occasionally even if they enjoy playing online.

However, the advent of online and mobile slots games has drawn in millions of new players around the world and provided regular players with a new and more convenient outlet.

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Slot machines: has online become the most popular way to play? - Mancunian Matters

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Playtech: New Live Casino and RNG partnership with 888 – European Gaming Industry News

Posted: at 2:37 pm

Reading Time: 4 minutes

After significant and protracted deliberations, Ukraine finally legalized gambling activities back in 2020. The Law on the governance of the organization and carrying out of gambling activities became effective almost half a year ago. As of the date of writing this article, already 3 licenses have been granted to online casinos for their gambling activities to be performed in the future.

There is still a number of issues and, despite all efforts, the gambling market seems to be standstill except for the mentioned minor movements by local online players obtaining licenses. As of now, it seems that no big international market players are entering the newly born Ukrainian gambling market. So, let`s discuss whether it is all going somewhere and if that somewhere is in the right direction.

Ukrainian gambling market background

To see a broader picture, one should unveil the historical background of the current gambling market legalization in Ukraine. First of all, its worth mentioning that the Ukrainian gambling market has been actually reopened, but not developed from scratch.

The previously operating Ukrainian gambling market was not so much a success story as one might imagine. There were no huge and fancy casinos like in Las Vegas, but rather a market consisting of different establishments, some of them even legal and compliant. They were shut down by decisive moves of the state authorities in 2009 due to the lack of comprehensive regulations and effective control over their execution, which irreversibly led to negative consequences. As a result, the mentioned flaws contributed to the growth of black and grey gambling services markets. Moreover, the lack of strict rules and their enforcement also formed a public opinion that the gambling market was something antisocial and dirty. Ukrainians still remember well those times when slot machine halls literally surrounded public transport stops and were filled with some not exactly wealthy people giving up their last money in pursuit of a snatch.

At that time, Ukrainian authorities decided to use muscles instead of brains and banned all gambling activities instead of introducing reasonable regulation and taking the situation under control. Thus, starting from mid-2009, all gambling operators were forced to leave the wild, but rapidly growing market. However, as one may guess, the Ukrainian gambling ban was not far from the Prohibition in the United States in terms of its results. Ukrainian gambling market simply went undercover, depriving the Ukrainian budget of significant contributions previously made by the industry.

What are the current challenges for the Ukrainian gambling market?

Not so long ago, a logical step was taken by Ukraine and the gambling activities ban was lifted. However, same as in the case with the Ukrainian land market, things are not perfectly smooth and there are still some obstacles in place.

For instance, while three online casinos have already paid for and received licenses, they still can`t fully realize and enjoy the rights of an online casino operator. The reason is that the necessary regulations applicable to certification of the equipment to be used in casinos haven`t been adopted yet. Additionally, there is still a certain lack of clarity in terms of taxation of gambling activities. Some say that a specific volume-based tax will be introduced. However, considering that the licensed operators can`t get any revenues in the absence of the regulations to certify their equipment, the issue of taxation seems to be too far to think about.

Apart from that, one should note that this time Ukrainian government decided to seriously take advantage of the gambling market by imposing comparatively high license fees, financial thresholds, and location requirements (for offline casinos). For instance, the license fee is around USD 1.1 million for online casinos (for 5 years) and USD 10 million for offline casinos if based in Kyiv (additional equipment fees will also apply). Moreover, a gambling operator must have a share capital of at least USD 1.1 million and a deposit account or Ukrainian bank guarantee for USD 1.2 million.

As to the location requirements, under the new legislation, casinos can be opened only at 5-star hotels with at least 150 rooms in Kyiv, 4- and 5-star hotels with at least 100 rooms in other regions, out-of-town resorts with a total area of at least 10,000 m2 or special gaming zones within territories to be further defined by the Ukrainian government.

Under the new law, various restrictive regulations of a similar character also apply to betting, slot machine halls, and online poker activities.

Opportunities and additional obligations for Ukrainian gambling operators

It is worth mentioning that there are some opportunities for the new market players. The new law provides that such players may obtain investment licenses. Holders of such licenses will be exempt from license fees for 10 years if they build a new 5-star hotel with at least 200 rooms in Kyiv or 150 rooms in another Ukrainian region.

Ukrainian gambling operators will be also obliged to follow certain gambling standards and policies aimed at preventing gambling addiction. The government plans to launch a state-owned online monitoring system. The system will perform a real-time oversight and control of the Ukrainian gambling industry.

To sum it all up, its an important aspect that different people might make different conclusions as to the above. Pessimists might claim that this time, the gambling market launch in Ukraine has little chance to become interesting for the largest international market players. However, if evaluated by opportunists, entering the Ukrainian gambling market is definitely worth a shot.

High financial thresholds and strict regulations ensure that the market will not slip into putting dirty slot machines centered around metro stations. It is more likely that the Ukrainian gambling industry will at least somehow resemble what one may observe in wealthy locations like Las Vegas. This puts confidence into the minds of potential investors because the government will not be in a position to cut its own leg by banning a well-governed and budget-supporting industry.

The readiness of the local online casino market players to pay for the licenses which can`t be yet used proves the above statement to be true. It also leads to a conclusion that gambling investors should already be on their way to Ukraine in order to be in a time when the market starts to operate and extreme profits flow into the hands of the few pioneers.

This article has been created with the help of Oleksandr Aleksyeyenko (Partner at Marchenko Partners) and Sviatoslav Henyk (Senior Associate at Marchenko Partners)

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Premiere of Yola Berrocal Wild West, the first Spanish Celebrities Casino Slots production by MGA Games – European Gaming Industry News

Posted: at 2:37 pm

Reading Time: 4 minutes

After significant and protracted deliberations, Ukraine finally legalized gambling activities back in 2020. The Law on the governance of the organization and carrying out of gambling activities became effective almost half a year ago. As of the date of writing this article, already 3 licenses have been granted to online casinos for their gambling activities to be performed in the future.

There is still a number of issues and, despite all efforts, the gambling market seems to be standstill except for the mentioned minor movements by local online players obtaining licenses. As of now, it seems that no big international market players are entering the newly born Ukrainian gambling market. So, let`s discuss whether it is all going somewhere and if that somewhere is in the right direction.

Ukrainian gambling market background

To see a broader picture, one should unveil the historical background of the current gambling market legalization in Ukraine. First of all, its worth mentioning that the Ukrainian gambling market has been actually reopened, but not developed from scratch.

The previously operating Ukrainian gambling market was not so much a success story as one might imagine. There were no huge and fancy casinos like in Las Vegas, but rather a market consisting of different establishments, some of them even legal and compliant. They were shut down by decisive moves of the state authorities in 2009 due to the lack of comprehensive regulations and effective control over their execution, which irreversibly led to negative consequences. As a result, the mentioned flaws contributed to the growth of black and grey gambling services markets. Moreover, the lack of strict rules and their enforcement also formed a public opinion that the gambling market was something antisocial and dirty. Ukrainians still remember well those times when slot machine halls literally surrounded public transport stops and were filled with some not exactly wealthy people giving up their last money in pursuit of a snatch.

At that time, Ukrainian authorities decided to use muscles instead of brains and banned all gambling activities instead of introducing reasonable regulation and taking the situation under control. Thus, starting from mid-2009, all gambling operators were forced to leave the wild, but rapidly growing market. However, as one may guess, the Ukrainian gambling ban was not far from the Prohibition in the United States in terms of its results. Ukrainian gambling market simply went undercover, depriving the Ukrainian budget of significant contributions previously made by the industry.

What are the current challenges for the Ukrainian gambling market?

Not so long ago, a logical step was taken by Ukraine and the gambling activities ban was lifted. However, same as in the case with the Ukrainian land market, things are not perfectly smooth and there are still some obstacles in place.

For instance, while three online casinos have already paid for and received licenses, they still can`t fully realize and enjoy the rights of an online casino operator. The reason is that the necessary regulations applicable to certification of the equipment to be used in casinos haven`t been adopted yet. Additionally, there is still a certain lack of clarity in terms of taxation of gambling activities. Some say that a specific volume-based tax will be introduced. However, considering that the licensed operators can`t get any revenues in the absence of the regulations to certify their equipment, the issue of taxation seems to be too far to think about.

Apart from that, one should note that this time Ukrainian government decided to seriously take advantage of the gambling market by imposing comparatively high license fees, financial thresholds, and location requirements (for offline casinos). For instance, the license fee is around USD 1.1 million for online casinos (for 5 years) and USD 10 million for offline casinos if based in Kyiv (additional equipment fees will also apply). Moreover, a gambling operator must have a share capital of at least USD 1.1 million and a deposit account or Ukrainian bank guarantee for USD 1.2 million.

As to the location requirements, under the new legislation, casinos can be opened only at 5-star hotels with at least 150 rooms in Kyiv, 4- and 5-star hotels with at least 100 rooms in other regions, out-of-town resorts with a total area of at least 10,000 m2 or special gaming zones within territories to be further defined by the Ukrainian government.

Under the new law, various restrictive regulations of a similar character also apply to betting, slot machine halls, and online poker activities.

Opportunities and additional obligations for Ukrainian gambling operators

It is worth mentioning that there are some opportunities for the new market players. The new law provides that such players may obtain investment licenses. Holders of such licenses will be exempt from license fees for 10 years if they build a new 5-star hotel with at least 200 rooms in Kyiv or 150 rooms in another Ukrainian region.

Ukrainian gambling operators will be also obliged to follow certain gambling standards and policies aimed at preventing gambling addiction. The government plans to launch a state-owned online monitoring system. The system will perform a real-time oversight and control of the Ukrainian gambling industry.

To sum it all up, its an important aspect that different people might make different conclusions as to the above. Pessimists might claim that this time, the gambling market launch in Ukraine has little chance to become interesting for the largest international market players. However, if evaluated by opportunists, entering the Ukrainian gambling market is definitely worth a shot.

High financial thresholds and strict regulations ensure that the market will not slip into putting dirty slot machines centered around metro stations. It is more likely that the Ukrainian gambling industry will at least somehow resemble what one may observe in wealthy locations like Las Vegas. This puts confidence into the minds of potential investors because the government will not be in a position to cut its own leg by banning a well-governed and budget-supporting industry.

The readiness of the local online casino market players to pay for the licenses which can`t be yet used proves the above statement to be true. It also leads to a conclusion that gambling investors should already be on their way to Ukraine in order to be in a time when the market starts to operate and extreme profits flow into the hands of the few pioneers.

This article has been created with the help of Oleksandr Aleksyeyenko (Partner at Marchenko Partners) and Sviatoslav Henyk (Senior Associate at Marchenko Partners)

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Premiere of Yola Berrocal Wild West, the first Spanish Celebrities Casino Slots production by MGA Games - European Gaming Industry News

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What Are the Best Online Casino Games with an Indian Theme? – Punjab News Express

Posted: at 2:37 pm

Online casino games have become hugely attractive to Indian players lately, with interesting themes and useful features turning these classic games into a more modern option. Indian players will find the growing number of slots and table games that are set in the country or that have a strong Indian theme particularly appealing.Pearls of India

This sparkling slot from Play NGo features Rich Wilde as the brave adventurer who is looking for treasures in India. The various temples shown in this game include images such as the Statue of Vishnu, the Wheel of Brahma, and the Wall of Shiva, each of which leads to a unique bonus round where prizes can be won.

The five reels are filled with fabulous images of statues that will be instantly recognizable to Indian players. Behind the reels, an imposing temple sits in the mountains, adding a great deal of extra atmosphere to the playing experience.

The enduring appeal of cricket as the most popular sport in the country means that it is a great choice as a slots game. Cricket Star from Microgaming features images of players from different countries, including an Indian bowler, among the paying symbols that you will want to form lines with.

There are five reels here, with 243 ways to win on them, and when the free spins round is activated this leads to the Rolling Reels feature. During this round, any winning combinations are removed and replaced with new symbols for a second chance at a win with a multiplier that increases with each successive win.

Cricket fans who also enjoy placing wagers at the baccarat table should enjoy this live dealer game that brings both of these activities together in one place. The screen behind the dealer shows live streams of the latest cricket action, while you attempt to guess whether the banker or the player will win each hand.

This title comes from Ezugi and offers the chance to use any one of six different side bets to spice up the action further. We can see it in LeoVegas, where the games are split into sections such as Slots, Daily Jackpots, and Game Shows. They also have a range of original games such as LeoVegas Megaways, Pirates 2: Mutiny, and Avatars: Gateway Guardians to choose from.

One of the most useful advances in online casino games in the last few years has been the introduction of live dealer games. This gives players the chance to play games like roulette and blackjack in front of a human dealer who is live-streamed onto their screen. It has led to versions of classic games being produced for different markets, countries, and languages.

In India, the presence of Hindi language games like this title from Evolution allows players to take part in the language that they feel most comfortable with. The classic rules of the game apply but native-speaking dealers give a welcoming, hospitable atmosphere that makes players feel right at home straight away.

With more Indian players joining online casinos all the time, expect to see the range of games set here increase even more over time.

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What Are the Best Online Casino Games with an Indian Theme? - Punjab News Express

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PEI Finance Minister Defend the Plan to Establish Online Casino in the Province – West Island Blog

Posted: at 2:37 pm

Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) Finance Minister said that online casinos should be regulated in similar ways to cannabis and liquor. However, on Wednesday, the opposing M.L.A.s are hard-pressed by the finance minister to abandon the plan to launch an online casino in the province.

Liberal and Green M.L.A.s are opposing the plan, which received the approval of the cabinet in December. The plan is set to allow Atlantic Lottery Corporation to establish an online casino in the province. During a health and social development committee appearance, the finance minister insisted that the province need to allow online casinos to prevent islanders from gambling on offshores websites.

However, P.E.I. opposition leader Peter Bevan Baker raised a concern expressed by gambling addiction experts that the provinces financial gain is to be achieved while the low-income problem gamblers will be at the losing end. A primary concern at the meeting was regarding the online casino advertisement regulation.

The opposing M.L.A.s also cited the Atlantic Lottery advert, which offered gamblers $ 20 to spend on their website. M.L.S. Michele Beaton acclaimed over how those recovering from addiction received the ad. Besides, she added no way are other addictive items such as liquor offered on credit.

The M.L.A.s also raised concerns over the number of funds being allocated to responsible gaming resources. The province has devoted 1.5 percent to responsible gaming resources. However, fewer funds are going to the strategy. M.L.A. MacDonald raised a concern that the region should create an advisory council to help in the effort to reduce problem gaming.

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PEI Finance Minister Defend the Plan to Establish Online Casino in the Province - West Island Blog

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Austin Says Afghanistan, Iraq, China Among Topics at NATO Meeting – Department of Defense

Posted: at 2:37 pm

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III briefed Pentagon reporters on the results of NATO's virtual Defense Ministerial, discussing the decisions to increaseNATOsupport in Iraq and defer a decision about NATO troops in Afghanistan, and summarizing discussions among allies and partners about China.

It was Austin's first Pentagon briefing since taking office.

The importance of the alliance to American strategy was apparent since Day 1, as Austin's first call upon entering the Pentagon was to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Austin said the discussions were productive and covered a wide range of NATO concerns. The alliance does face challenges, including a resurgent Russia's disruptive technologies, climate change, the ongoing war in Afghanistan, the persistent threat of terrorism, and an increasingly aggressive China. Exacerbating all of these challenges is the COVID-19 pandemic.

Austin said his first goal in the ministerial was to detail President Joe Biden's commitment to NATO and underscore that the United States values allies and partners around the world. He emphasized that U.S. foreign policy will be led by diplomats supported by a strong military.

"I also stressed our ironclad commitment to the security guarantee under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty," he said. "I don't use that word 'ironclad' lightly. Our shared responsibility as allies our duty is to protect our populations and our territory. And to meet that duty we require what the secretary general refers to as credible deterrence and defense."

Doing this requires commitment and funding. Austin was pleased that nine NATO allies now meet or exceed the alliance's goal of 2% of gross domestic product spent on defense. After years of reductions, the alliance is now in the seventh year of defense spending increases. "Naturally, we want this trend to continue, and we want to see every member of the alliance contribute their fair share," he said.

The secretary noted that Sweden, Finland and representatives from the European Union joined the talks and were especially helpful on their views about China. "Indeed, I applaud NATO's work on China, and I made it clear that the United States is committed to defending the international rules-based order, which China has consistently undermined for its own interests," he said.

He reiterated that the United States sees China as the pacing challenge. "We believe NATO can help us better think through our operating concepts and investment strategies, when it comes to meeting that challenge," Austin said.

The ministers spent a full day discussing the NATO missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"On Iraq, I reiterated our strong commitment to the defeat of ISIS and to supporting Iraq's long-term security, stability and prosperity," he said. "That's a commitment that I made to my Iraqi counterpart and the Iraqi minister of interior just the other day after last weekend's deadly rocket attack in Erbil. I also welcomed that expanded NATO mission in Iraq that responds to the desires and aspirations of the Iraqi government."

In Afghanistan, the secretary walked the allies through U.S. thinking as the Biden administration comes to grips with the reality on the ground. "The bottom line is this: We are committed to a responsible and sustainable end to this war, while preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups that threaten the interest of the United States and our allies," he said.

Austin said the United States wants to see "a just and durable end" to the long-running conflict.

The administration is conducting an interagency review of the situation in Afghanistan, including all relevant options with full consideration of the consequences of any potential course of action, Austin said.

"We are mindful of the looming deadlines," he continued. "But we want to do this methodically and deliberately."

Austin said the Taliban violence is too high and that more progress must be made in Afghan-led negotiations. "I urge all parties to choose the path towards peace," he said. "The violence must decrease now. I told our allies that no matter what the outcome of our review, the United States will not undertake a hasty or disorderly withdrawal from Afghanistan that puts their forces or the alliance's reputation at risk."

No decisions about future force posture have been made, the secretary said. In the meantime, current missions will continue and commanders have the right and the responsibility to defend themselves and their Afghan partners against attack.

Any move ahead will be made after consultations among all those interested parties. "There will be no surprises," he said. "We will consult each other, consult together, decide together and act together."

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Austin Says Afghanistan, Iraq, China Among Topics at NATO Meeting - Department of Defense

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NATO: A Year of Pandemic, Pain, Patience, and Perseverance – Boxoffice Pro

Posted: at 2:37 pm

By Patrick Corcoran Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, NATO

Bits of news had been trickling out of China about a new and contagious respiratory virus at the very end of 2019. On January 23, 2020, China announced it was closing all 70,000 cinema screens as part of its efforts to control the virus. On January 31, NATO distributed an updated and revised Preparing for a Flu Pandemic, originally prepared in 2009, as well as its Crisis Management Handbook. That same day, travel restrictions for non-U.S. citizens from China went into effect.

Preparations for the 10th-annual edition of CinemaCon, scheduled for March 30April 2, continued, with a wary eye on worsening case numbers of the novel coronavirus, now known as Covid-19. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic, and NATO canceled CinemaCon that same day. NATO, unlike many organizations and event planners, had pandemic insurance, meaning that the organization would incur no losses as a result of canceling the show.

Within a week, movie theaters across the country began to close, as audiences began staying away from public places and the industry anticipated state-mandated closures. Most observers at the time anticipated no longer than a six-week- to three-month-long period of closures. As we all know now, they were wrong.

For NATO and its members, the pandemic has meant an ever-changing mixture of crisis response, managing expectations, and drawing on deep wells of experience and relationships developed over years.

NATOs Executive Board began meeting weekly two days after the WHOs declaration and before U.S. movie theaters began to shut down. First priorities were to understand the extent of the crisis, state and local mandates, and how to plan as an industry for what was expected to be a not-far-off reopening. The theater industry would make it known that we would behave as responsible citizens, that the health and safety of our patrons and employees were our highest concerns, and that we would be back.

We called upon industry allies and they called on us. Christopher Nolan asked what he could do. Within three days of U.S. theaters closing, we helped him place his piece, Movie theaters are a vital part of American social life. They will need our help. in The Washington Post.

NATO contributed $1 million to a seed fund for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers to provide assistance for movie theater employees affected by the closure of movie theaters due to the pandemic.

NATO lobbying was in full swing as discussions began in Washington over a potential aid package for businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic. NATO coordinated with its regional affiliates on outreach to local health officials on how to sensibly and safely reopen.

We began weekly State of the Industry webinars on April 23 to keep members informed and to learn their concerns. We are preparing for our 35th such webinar as this article is written. There have also been stand-alone webinars on various provisions of federal aid packages, as well as operational, marketing, and other issues.

There has been constant communication with the studios, large and small, on the complexities and challenges of the pandemic release calendar. While there have been disappointments in movies going straight to the home, or in hybrid home and theatrical pandemic release windows, the vast majority of major titles have chosen to delay their release in theaters, rather than abandon it.

The first stimulus package, known as the CARES Act, provided direct aid to individuals and enhanced and extended unemployment relief. The CARES Act also provided two new loan programs: the Paycheck Protection Program, which granted partially forgivable loans to small businesses, and the Main Street Lending Program, which made loans available to companies with up to 15,000 employees and $5 billion in revenue. The CARES Act also provided tax relief to business of all sizes, through payroll tax deferral; the long-sought QIP fix, which corrected an error that extended capital improvement expense depreciation to 39 years and allowed businesses to amend those items in 2018 and 2019 returns; and the net operating loss carryback provision, which allowed businesses and individuals to use net operating losses against taxes incurred up to five years before, yielding hundreds of millions in tax refunds for exhibitors.

As the late spring and summer stumbled forward in fits and starts of reopenings and closures, it became clear that individual company health and safety protocols were not effective at convincing local officials to consider allowing theaters to reopen or to lift restrictions on capacity, nor were consumers clear on just what movie theaters were doing to help keep them safe. Both problems were also making studios wary about releasing movies with large box office potential. A national movie theater health and safety protocol was necessary.

NATO staff and member volunteers worked throughout the summer with epidemiologists and state boards of health to develop voluntary health and safety protocols. Unanimously adopted by NATOs Executive Board, CinemaSafe was rolled out to members and non-members alike, with a national press conference and website and multimillion-dollar marketing effort in time for the release of Chris Nolans Tenet, in late August. In-theater graphics and a consumer-friendly video was made available to the historic group of 420 companies, 3,150 locations, and more than 33,000 screens nationwide. Health officials in multiple countries adopted CinemaSafe as their standard for movie theater reopening protocols.

CinemaSafe became a useful tool in convincing health officials across the country of the seriousness with which movie theater owners took their responsibilities and formed a framework for their reopening policies.

This was not effective in all jurisdictions, as NATO and NATO of New Jersey sued the state of New Jersey in U.S. District Court to allow movie theaters to reopen at the same time the state allowed religious institutions and other similarly situated business and institutions to open. NATO did not prevail in that suit, but the pressure undoubtedly prompted New Jersey to reopen movie theaters weeks before they had originally planned and accelerated the opening of theaters in adjacent New York State.

But the pandemic will have its way. A second wave of the virus hit the U.S. in late summer, and Europe, where the response had been far more promising and theaters had been allowed to open broadly, in the fall. Throughout this time, NATO continued to lobby on a badly stalled second pandemic stimulus program.

As it became clear leading up to elections in November, that negotiations on a new relief package were serious, NATO engaged its grassroots and industry allies to lobby key administration and congressional leaders to include movie theaters in their plans. NATO, through its relationship with a new associationNIVA (National Independent Venue Association)lobbied for the Save Our Stages Act. Initially intended for live music venues, SOS had multiple Congressional sponsors and a real path to enactment. NIVA agreed that movie theaters should be included, if we could convince the sponsors to agree to add $5 billion to the initial $10 billion allocated for the provision. NATO succeeded in this, and through intense lobbying, including thousands of contacts from NATO members, SOS, now known as the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, passed Congress and was signed into law by the president.

The grants, much discussed in yet more NATO webinars, provide a lifeline that will help small and mid-size theater companies make it until vaccines are widely available and business can return to normal.

Meanwhile, working off a template developed by NATO of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to establish state-based grants to movie theater operators, multiple states have provided more money to movie theaters across the country.

And in an extra bonus, a long-term NATO policy goal and lobbying focus, the maintenance of the ASCAP/BMI music licensing consent decree, was left in place by the outgoing head of the Department of Justices Antitrust Division. The decision means that U.S. movie theater companies will not have to pay hundreds of millions annually to license the music that is in movies they play, unlike our counterparts around the world.

In these difficult times, NATO has also experienced something unusual for an industry in crisis. We have grown. In February 2020, NATO had 676 members (590 Domestic, 3 from U.S. Territories, 21 from Canada, and 62 international), comprising 66,014 screens at 7,425 locations worldwide; 34,171 screens at 3,389 locations domestic.

In January 2021, NATO membership totaled 1,018 companies with 70,222 screens at 8,320 locations worldwide. 904 of those members were domestic, with 35,854 screens at 3,828 locations.

Through careful financial management and the huge success of CinemaCon over a decade, NATO had accumulated a reserve fund that was quite large for an organization of its size. As a benefit to members and to attract new members, NATO announced, pre-pandemic, that it would suspend dues payments for fiscal year 202021. A pretty nice deal, but the deal has not been the driver. The vast bulk of new membership has come as a result of the pandemic and NATOs response to it.

And NATOs response to the pandemic and all its attendant issues was not possible without that robust financial reserve, without the active engagement of a large, diverse, unified membership. Theater owners stories, told in hundreds of media interviews month after month, making personal their plight, and their value to their communities, and told to congressional staff in districts across the country, helped make those various relief measures a possibility. Members embracing the CinemaSafe protocols, members working with the NATO regional associations, got theaters reopened and lifted onerous restrictions and got grants to keep going.

Were not done. We will continue to lobby the Small Business Administration to make sure the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants are administered fairly; we will continue to lobby states and localities to allow theaters to reopen when it is safe to do so, without discriminatory provisions or unreasonable capacity caps; we will continue to lobby the studios to provide movie product and to return to pre-pandemic windowing models when the business returns to normal.

We will continue to do this and more for you. But we cant do it without you.

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NATO: A Year of Pandemic, Pain, Patience, and Perseverance - Boxoffice Pro

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