1 Monopolies
A large number of European sports betting markets will continue to be off limits to private sports betting retailers as they continue to remain under the control of government monopolies.
Furthermore there are few signs that these monopolies could end soon. In the Netherlands the monopoly over
sports betting will remain in place long term. In Hungary sports betting is monopolised by SzerencsejátékZrt
which operates some 300 direct betting outlets throughout the country.
SzerencsejátékZrt is fully owned by the Hungarian State and has the exclusive right to sell sport games.
In Greece OPAP (Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics S.A) owns 100 per cent pre-paid exclusive retail licences,
providing significant barriers to entry in the Greek market. OPAP’s exclusive retail licences include, horse racing, with the earliest expiration in 2026. In
Portugal sports betting is organised and operated by the Santa Casa de
Misericordia de Lisboa (SCML) through the Games Department under an exclusive monopoly.
Meanwhile there is no private retail sports betting in Norway and the Norwegian parliament voted to
continue and consolidate its monopoly model in May 2017. In France there is a monopoly for sports betting (Française des Jeux). New regulations give
Francaise des Jeux (FDJ) the exclusivity in operating lottery games in France, both in physical networks and online, as well as retail sports betting. More than 95 per cent of FDJ’s activity is operated under exclusive rights
(lotteries on the one hand and sports betting in points of sale on the other).
2 Austria
Austria will update its sports betting industry as its laws on sports betting
currently date back to 1978. While the casino market is organised as an
oligopoly with 15 casinos the sports betting market is regulated by the nine provinces. At present, Austria’s nine
states have been granted autonomy on governing wagering services. In August 2019 Lower Austria, the country’s
largest state submitted sports betting legislation to regulate online and retail betting to the European Commission. It sets out specific regulations for online bookmakers and retail sports betting hosted in outlets such as tobacconists, video stores and restaurants.
Te Act in Lower Austria sets out a
licensing system in which sports betting operators can apply for online or retail licences, with new market entrants limited to two-year licences. Online sports betting licences are limited to
two-year terms. Te limited lifetime of online licences compared to land based operations could lead to an expansion in the retail space as companies renewing their certification can apply for licences lasting up to 10 years.
Licensing requirements as well as the exact product scope and licence term still differ significantly from state to state. Betting licences are generally
available without limit on the number that may operate but scope varies according to local laws. However
changes on a national level could be on the way. In March, Austria’s finance
minister called for the establishment of an independent gambling regulator
which would take regulation from the hands of the country’s Treasury.
In January, Ukraine’s legislature approved a bill that would legalise gambling in the country in its first reading, with 260 of the country’s 450 deputies voting in favour. According to the latest draft of the bill each licensee would be granted permission to open five outlets. 32 bookmaking licences would be available in Kyiv, 16 between two other of its largest cities Odes and Kharkov and 32 more would be permitted in the rest of the country. The bill now faces a second reading in the Ukrainian parliament.
3 Ukraine
With a population of 43 million there is a good potential for an expansion in the retail sports betting space. Gambling in the Ukraine was made illegal in 2009. Te Ukraine is currently looking at a
major overhaul of its gaming laws and is close to passing a gaming bill. A draft bill including provisions for casinos in hotels, slot halls, sports betting and online gaming was drawn up in 2018. Te draft of the new law allows for 800 sports betting shops provided by 80 different companies. Ukraine
companies would be allotted at least 32 of these licences. A cap of 40 betting
shops would be allowed in any one city with operators being limited to
operating no more than 10 outlets each. In January, Ukraine’s legislature
approved a bill that would legalise gambling in the country in its first
reading, with 260 of the country’s 450 deputies voting in favour. According to the latest draft of the bill each licensee would be granted permission to open five outlets. 32 bookmaking licences
would be available in Kyiv, 16 between two other of its largest cities Odes and Kharkov and 32 more would be
permitted in the rest of the country. Te bill now faces a second reading in the Ukrainian parliament.
P60 NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA
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