Industry News
Operators considering Isle of Man switch after POGO tax hike
A significant tax hike for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) could lead to an influx of companies looking to move to the Isle of Man, according to one industry expert.
Egaming companies in the Philippines are facing a more-than-double tax hike after new rules were signed into law.
POGOs – companies licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to provide offshore gaming services – will have to pay 5% tax on turnover, replacing the previous 2% gross revenue tax.
Failure to comply could result in companies losing their PAGCOR licences and it seems many companies are exploring other options.
Alex Gardner, director of Isle of Man-based Affinity Group, which supports egaming operators looking to set up in the Isle of Man, said the company had noticed an uptick in enquires.
She said: “The Philippines has historically been a jurisdiction chosen by Asian-facing operators but, following the recent negative press surrounding POGO and more recently the tax increase, we have seen an influx of enquiries from operators who are looking for a suitable licence to either continue or start targeting the Asian market.
“The Isle of Man is perfect for this having developed an international reputation as being a leader in the egaming industry and is already home to some of the biggest Asian facing operators in the world.
“As a company that has helped many start-ups and established companies through the Isle of Man Licence licensing process it is understandable that many operators are considering moving their operations from the Philippines.”
The bill in the Philippines has been signed into law by president Rodrigo Duterte as part of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, as the Philippines aims to close gaps in its Covid-19 relief fund.
All 60 licensees were forced to halt operations as part of the Covid-19 lockdown and the government has seemingly taken this opportunity to crack down on companies failing to meet tax obligations. Only 29 have since been granted permission to resume activities.
Filipino politician Franklin Drilon said: “The Bayanihan 2 will more than double the tax collection from POGO, from Php7 billion (US$144.5 million) estimated collection in 2019 to approximately Php17.5 billion (US$361.2 million) this year because of the reforms we have introduced in the measure.
“All revenues from POGO will be used to fund the various types of assistance laid out in the Bayanihan 2 for all sectors affected by the pandemic.”
PAGCOR and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said in May that all POGOs and their service providers must fulfil certain prerequisites before being given the green light to resume activity, including settling any outstanding tax liabilities as certified by the BIR, updating payment of any regulatory fees, license fees, performance bonds or penalties owed to PAGCOR, and remittance of all regulatory fees.
Industry News
Nadine Dereza Returns to Chair the ICE World Gaming Forum
Award-winning former Financial Times journalist and business broadcaster Nadine Dereza has been confirmed to chair January’s World Gaming Forum, the three-day learning, networking and knowledge sharing exchange which replaces ICE VOX.
In a career that’s seen her interview global politicians including the late Kofi Annan, Condoleezza Rice, Ban Ki-moon, Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Gerhard Schröder, Nadine will once again be applying her journalist skill set to Clarion Gaming’s sector-leading World Regulatory Briefing, Casino & Leaders Conference (formerly the ICC), and the Esports & Games Conference (formerly the Esports Betting Conference), having previously presented the final edition of ICE VOX in London.
The ICE World Gaming Forum will run Monday 20th – Wednesday 22nd January 2025 alongside the ICE and iGB Affiliate exhibitions which will be hosted for the first time at the Fira Gran Via Barcelona, one of Europe’s biggest and best-appointed venues and home to prestigious Tier 1 events including Smart City Expo, IOT World Congress, Mobile World Congress, IBTM World and Integrated Systems Europe.
Clarion Gaming’s Senior Conference Producer Damien Ashton-Wellman said: “We are delighted to have Nadine back on the team for delivering the first edition of the World Gaming Forum. Nadine was central to the success of the 2024 ICE conferences which featured over 1,210 senior decision makers from 79 countries, including 621 operator C-Level, 87 global CEOs, 72 national and regional regulatory bodies, and 7 government ministers. Her unique blend of financial, political, and technology sector experience, and her broadcast ready presentation skills really delivered an elevated experience for the show.”
He added: “We are confident that our new world class venue and host city partnership will provide a platform for further growth with the ICE World Gaming Forum delivering exclusive connections, in-depth content, and tailored networking events.”
Nadine Dereza said: “I’m delighted to have been invited back to help launch the World Gaming Forum in what is a favourite European city of mine. The gambling industry is a highly innovative sector for entrepreneurs, policy makers and campaigners alike. ICE reflects this dynamic on a global scale and I’m looking forward to hosting insightful debates, regulatory updates and plenty of knowledge sharing. I’ve described ICE as being the ‘Davos of Gaming’ because it’s the largest gathering of leaders from across the global gaming ecosystem. Having previously hosted the IBTM Leadership Summit for several consecutive years and many international shows in Barcelona, the welcome and event services offered by the city and Fira venue are among the best I’ve worked with, and those attending ICE in January will see that experience too”
The World Gaming Forum will be situated at the heart of the Fira Gran Via Barcelona and feature an exclusive club-style VIP lounge for delegates and speakers, a dedicated networking garden, and provide access to a range of concierge services, including early access to the show each day.
Industry News
BetConstruct Nominated at SiGMA Europe B2B Awards
BetConstruct has been nominated for two categories at the SiGMA Europe B2B Awards that is set to take place in Valletta, Malta on November 11.
BetConstruct’s full-fledged platform was nominated for the Best Platform Provider category, while the novel loyalty system The Last Battle received a nomination for the Unique Selling Point category.
“Our platform and The Last Battle are testaments to BetConstruct’s commitment to pushing the envelope in innovation, and we are excited to be nominated for both categories. The Last Battle in particular is unique, as it can be easily paired with our casino and sports betting products. It helps partners enhance player engagement on their platforms by putting players into different segments, each with their own unique and customisable rewards that are triggered when players earn points and level up,” the company said.
The Awards take place on the 11th of November during the SiGMA Europe 2024 event.
Industry News
Kindred Group Announces Third Quarter Revenue as Part of Tender Offer by La Française des Jeux
Kindred Group plc (Kindred) announced third quarter total revenue figures (unaudited) as part of FDJ’s public tender offer to acquire the entire outstanding share capital of Kindred.
During the third quarter of 2024, Kindred saw continued solid growth across its diversified market footprint with total revenue (B2C and B2B) reaching GBP 294.5 million. The Gross winnings revenue for the third quarter amounted to GBP 283.1 million and the share of Gross winnings revenue from locally regulated markets amounted to 83%.
Kindred’s estimated revenue and share of locally regulated revenue for the third quarter 2024 are in line with expectations and the Group remains on track towards its communicated full-year EBITDA guidance. Kindred will report final figures for the third quarter 2024 in its interim report on 25 October 2024.
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