New Tax Adds to Industry Woes SOUTH AMERICA


Los accionistas del operador de casinos sudafricano Tsogo Sun se han opuesto al plan de vender siete casinos y hoteles al Hospitality Prop- erty Fund por un total de 1720 millones de dólares.


La realidad virtual inmersiva apunta al Grosvenor Casino de Mánchester (Reino Unido) ya que sus propietarios, Rank Group, han suscrito un acuerdo con Immotion Group para poner a prueba un VR Racing Challenge.


Clarion Gaming, organizador de la feria ICE de Londres, ha confirmado que la edición de 2019 será la mayor de la historia, con una superficie neta de 45 500 m² frente a los 43 500 m² de 2018, un incremento ligeramente por debajo del 5 por ciento.


Las casas de apuestas deportivas online y físicas de Nueva Jersey han registrado un nuevo récord en octubre al superar la marca de los 500 millones de dólares en apuestas por primera vez desde su legalización en el mes de junio.


La Corporación de Loterías de la Columbia Británica ha aprobado un nuevo establecimiento recreativo y de juego en la ciudad canadiense de Delta. Cascades Casino Delta, operado por Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited, incluirá un hotel, restaurantes, un espacio de encuentro y un casino con aproximadamente 500 máquinas tragaperras, 24 juegos de mesa y hasta 6 juegos de mesa elec- trónicos.


Penn National se dispone a comprar los activos del Greektown Casino and Hotel por aproxi- madamente 300 millones de dólares, y VICI Properties adquirirá las tierras y los activos inmobil- iarios de Greektown por aproximadamente 700 millones de dólares. Dan Gilbert y su familia de empresas destinarán los ingresos de capital deriva- dos de la venta a inversiones en desarrollo empresarial e inmobiliario en Detroit.


Kambi Group plc ha suscrito un acuerdo de varios años con Greenwood Gaming and Entertain- ment, propietaria del mayor complejo de juego en casino de Pensilvania, Parx Casino.


Imperial Pacific, operador del Imperial Pacific Resort en Saipán, ha declarado que no se dispone a entrar en bancarrota y que emprenderá medidas legales para acabar con los rumores.


El Gobierno de Andorra ha ampliado el plazo para preparar su respuesta a una apelación presen- tada por cinco de los operadores que solicitaron sin éxito la licencia de casino única en Andorra.


La empresa china Shanghai Jucheng Supply Management Group ha anunciado que destinará 100 millones de dólares a construir un complejo de casino integrado dentro de la Zona Económica Especial y Puerto Libre de Cagayan en Filipinas.


Casinos Austria International (CAI) se ha presentado como participante en la carrera por obtener una de las tres licencias iniciales de casino en Japón, con lo que se convierte en el 17.º grupo de casinos internacional y el segundo operador europeo en unirse a esta licitación.


P10 NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA


Te Panamanian Association of Gambling Operators asks for a veto on a new bill that grants an increase to retirees financed by tax on the net profit of slots


Operators association President estimates that around 5,000 people have already lost their jobs


PANAMA LEGISLATION


Te Panamanian Association of Gambling Operators will ask for a veto on a new bill that grants an increase to retirees financed by a tax on the net profit of slot machines and betting centres. President of the organisation Yelytza Amador said that the increase came as a surprise because the original bill had not included the same amount.


Te National Assembly approved the new project in the third debate on the issue with the aim of increasing pensions of up to a maximum of US$1,500. In order to finance the increase the government is now considering a 7 per cent tax on remittance transfers (international wires) and a tax on the profits on slots and betting centres equivalent to 5 per cent. Te new tax has generated opposition amongst a number of business interest groups, which are requesting that the President veto the new project.


Amador said that the news was yet another blow for the industry, which has seen falling revenues and thousands of layoffs over recent years. "I'm surprised they (the government) make decisions so lightly. Everyone knows that casinos are going through a very difficult situation.” Amador said that around 5,000 people have already lost their jobs.


Pokerstars and other online sites blocked in Córdoba


Argentina


At the request of the Lottery of Córdoba, legal authorities have blocked www.pokerstars.com as well as other online operators, from organising and promoting betting without proper authorisation from the Lottery. Although the entire list of blocked sites is not yet known, local authorities said that it encompasses all sites that can be accessed from within the province.


Te purpose of the complaint is to demonstrate the responsibility of those involved in running gambling sites, those who participating in marketing as well as the economic transactions of illegal websites that offer sports betting, poker, slots, roulette and others games.


"Tis does not have to do with whether people like gambling or not, this is a matter of people having the right to decide if they like the racecourse, the lottery or the games of chance. Tis is a matter of legal security, of the existing contracts with the State and the paying of what the industry already contributes,” she said.


Amador said that for every dollar wagered, 0.93 cents is returned in prizes and estimates that the remaining seven cents are used to pay the 18 per cent in licence fees, salaries, investment, debts and social security. In addition, gambling establishments are also still struggling to recover from a 5.5 per cent tax, which now applies to all cash withdrawals made in casinos, slot parlours, bingo halls and sports betting shops and tracks. “We are strangling the industry," she said.


In July it was revealed that gambling between January and May fell by 5.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2017. According to the Association of Managers of Gaming (ASAJA), the 5.5 per cent tax already in place has not only affected the gaming industry, but has also affected the government revenues, since between 2014-16, taxes from the industry decreased 17.7 per cent, equivalent to US$17m.


Pokerstars was denounced in November last year by the lottery, which regulates legally sanctioned gaming in the province.


Offering online gambling without a licence granted to it by the province is illegal as stated in the Criminal Code and has a penalty ranging from three to six years in prison.


A number of Internet service providers had met with the requirements of judicial order of Judge Dr. José María Romero, a measure that also encompasses other websites that promote online gambling.


However the Lottery of Córdoba, requested that the Public Prosecutor Dr. Guillermo González, take appropriate judicial measures to punish the non-compliance of Internet service providers who, to date, had not complied with the Judge’s order.


Argentina


In an unexpected move, Governor María Eugenia Vidal could be looking to allow online gambling in Buenos Aires province in order to raise taxes. Te government's new Budget Bill for 2019, which has already been sent to the Buenos Aires Senate for approval, would allow for seven online gambling licences. According to government estimates, a newly regulated online gaming sector could generate about $2,500m annually (about US$70m) for the province of Buenos Aires. Under current plans, the government is considering a 15 per cent tax on gross income. Te government would launch the tender for the seven licenses that will include sports betting, horse racing, casino games and betting on the outcome of other live events. While priority will be given to local companies, foreign companies may also take part in the tender.


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