Industry News
Spain provides tax cuts for online gambling
Spain has reduced tax rates for online gambling operators in the country. The gambling industry, quite predictably, has hailed the move and termed it as an “absolutely fantastic” news.
The tax cut was announced in the recently presented 771-page annual budget. The budget has several tax reductions for online gambling operators, most importantly a 5 per cent reduction in gross gaming revenue, slashing the tax rate from 25 to 20 per cent.
The tax cuts will fuel profits and subsequent growth in the country’s booming online gambling sector. The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), Spain’s gambling regulator, recently reported a 27 per cent year-on-year increase in online gambling revenue for the first quarter of 2018.
Santiago Asensi, managing partner of Spanish gaming law firm Asensi Abogados, told iGamingBusiness.com that the new tax regulations will be “good news for everyone”, including the government coffers, which he believes will benefit from a hike in the tax take.
“Operators will be able to make better offers to the players who will not go to illegal markets,” he said. “The latest figures from the DGOJ show that all areas of online gambling are expanding, particularly with sports betting and online casino games, so I believe that these new measures will also lead to more tax being collected.”
Although the DGOJ has been lobbying the Spanish government for many years to reduce tax rates for online operators, Asensi acknowledged that it would have been “politically very difficult” to introduce such changes at a time of severe austerity across the broader economy, which endured a savage downturn during the global financial crisis.
However, with the economy having expanded by 3.1 per cent in 2017, driven by a significant increase in exports, Spain’s Ministry of Finance has found the right time to bring in the changes, buried in a lengthy document alongside hundreds of other budget decisions.
“The DGOJ has been working very hard to reduce the rate for years, but if a party had announced plans to reduce taxes for online gambling companies while asking for sacrifices from the general population, it wouldn’t have got many votes,” Asensi added.
“However, now the Spanish economy has recovered, it is the right time.”
The five per cent cut will apply to online fixed-odds betting and sports betting, fixed-odds horse racing, betting exchanges and online casino games, bingo and poker.
Companies located in the tiny Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the northern shores of Morocco’s Mediterranean coast will continue to be taxed at 10 per cent of online gross gaming revenues.
The tax rate on pari-mutuel sports betting gross gaming revenue was also cut from 22 to 20per cent, bringing the rate in line with state-owned betting services.
However, the tax rate for pari-mutuel horse racing and pari-mutuel pool betting gross gaming revenues has been increased from 15 to 20 per cent.
The changes were effective from July 1 and have been widely welcomed by companies with interests in the Spanish market who have long argued that the tax rates for online operators have been prohibitive. It emerged in April that Spain’s Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the national government, were looking at slashing tax rates for gambling operators.
Source: iGamingBusiness
Industry News
LiveScore Group Announces Internal Restructuring as Part of Sustainable Growth Strategy
LiveScore Group has announced an internal restructuring process, expected to impact more than 100 existing roles across multiple business locations, including London.
The changes are seen as a difficult yet important step for LiveScore Group, streamlining the business to create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth. All impacted employees have been informed and are now subject to a confidential consultation process.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “On behalf of all Directors of LiveScore Group, and the relevant subsidiary companies, we are saddened by the difficult decision to commence an internal restructure of the business, a process which impacts a significant number of our people.
“Whilst we celebrate our recent period of significant and exciting growth, we must now future-proof the organisation and ensure our internal structures allow us to achieve long-term and sustainable success.
“This is a hard time for all our people, as we say goodbye to colleagues who have played an important role in our journey across recent years.”
The announcement follows on from the recent news that LiveScore Malta Limited (part of LiveScore Group) is to withdraw its LiveScore Bet brand from the Netherlands following recent government tax increases in the market. The announcement includes those impacted by this. There will be no other customer impact in respect of any of the remaining LiveScore, LiveScore Bet or Virgin Bet sites globally.
Industry News
Pronet Gaming Appoints Alex Karaoulis as its New Commercial & Product Strategy Lead
Pronet Gaming, an award-winning platform provider of full turnkey solutions, announced the appointment of Alexandros Karaoulis as its new Commercial & Product Strategy Lead.
With over 14 years of experience in the iGaming industry, Karaoulis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives forward.
Throughout his iGaming career, Karaoulis has held various senior roles with B2B sportsbook and casino providers, as well as with B2C operators. His extensive background in marketing and sales within the iGaming sector positions him as a true industry expert, ensuring that Pronet Gaming remains at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving market.
“I am thrilled to join Pronet Gaming and excited to fulfill my role in developing and executing sales strategies to drive the company’s revenue growth in key markets,” Karaoulis said.
With a track record in commercial strategies and driving product excellence, Karaoulis’ appointment is invaluable as Pronet Gaming now seeks to expand its footprint to Asia. His vision and deep understanding of the iGaming landscape equip him to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that the dynamic region presents.
“I want Pronet Gaming to lead the iGaming revolution by providing innovative, culturally tailored solutions that cater to the diverse and rapidly growing demands of the region. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of local markets, we aim to empower operators to offer world-class gaming experiences that engage players and drive sustainable growth,” he added.
According to Karaoulis, Pronet Gaming is poised to make a splash in Asia by leveraging its advanced technology, flexible platform solutions and deep market expertise while adapting to the unique characteristics of the region.
“The key differentiation point of Pronet Gaming is that we have B2C experience, which greatly aids in understanding the needs of operators and helping them to improve and execute their strategy according to the market. I have worked in B2C roles for more than seven years in my iGaming Career and managed campaigns across various channels, optimised conversion funnels, and learned to use data to improve player acquisition and retention,” said Karaoulis.
Karaoulis acknowledges that the marketing skills he has acquired from B2C experience are valuable in every B2B environment. As he dives into his new role at Pronet Gaming, Karaoulis aims to guide his operator clients on how to better market their own sites, including providing them with advice on effective acquisition strategies, content marketing and campaign structures that appeal to iGaming audiences.
“I also focus heavily on engagement strategies, loyalty programs, bonuses, and personalised offers to keep players active and returning. In my new B2B role, I will advise clients on best practices for player engagement, helping them adopt effective loyalty programs, personalised marketing, and retention tactics that drive player lifetime value to improve the end-player experience for our clients’ sites,” Karaoulis added.
Industry News
Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024
Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.
This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.
Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”
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