Wire SOUTH AMERICA
Te corruption case - Operation Squid (Operación Calamar) - involves more than a dozen politicians and former cabinet members.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LEGISLATION Corruption Investigation Deepens
Senior officials are accused of amassing US$360m over a five-year period, making it the largest case of corruption in the Dominican Republic.
Chile - Grupo Meier wants licences revoked Casino operator Grupo Meier (Corporación Meier) has filed a complaint with the Superintendence of Gaming Casinos (SCJ) demanding that the last tender involving Dreams, Enjoy and Marina del Sol be revoked.
Grupo Meier based its claims on a report prepared by law firm Contreras Velozo on their behalf. In a letter to the SJC, the company’s manager Lientur Fuentealba Meier claimed that the companies had worked together in order to divide twelve casino licenses amongst themselves. Grupo Meier explained that it wanted ten resolutions issued by the SJC annulled.
“All these resolutions were issued within the framework of the bidding processes for the granting and renewal of permits for the operation of gaming casinos, whose bases were approved by the SCJ . . . to companies belonging to the Marina del Sol, Dreams and Enjoy groups in the communes of Valdivia, Mostazal, Los Ángeles, Temuco, Osorno, Punta Arenas, Calama, Talcahuano, Rinconada de los Andes and San Antonio ,” he said. Licences were renewed for fifteen years.
He added that based on information that had recently come to light over alleged collusion between the three companies it had become clear that the decisions made by the SJC over the renewal of these licences at that time were unlawful.
This is not the first time that the operator has denounced alleged irregularities in the bidding process. In October last year, the Meier Corporation filed a complaint before the Tribunal for the Defence of Free Competition (TDLC).
The Peruvian operator, which is the current licence holder for the casino located in Talca and owns a share of the Puerto Natales Casino, denounced a series of alleged irregularities regarding the bidding rules for the last two public tenders carried out.
Mexico – Grupo Caliente expands Zitro offering Grupo Caliente has expanded its game offering with the addition of 350 Mighty Hammer machines in nearly all of its casinos. The number of Zitro machines in Caliente’s casinos throughout Mexico now exceeds 2.300 units. The response from users has reportedly been ‘overwhelmingly positive’, with Grupo Caliente highlighting the game’s ‘exceptional performance’ in its gaming halls.
The operator stated: “The Mighty Hammer’s bonus feature’s intensity has captured the attention of our casino players, and with Zitro’s latest addition, we reaffirm our commitment to providing them the latest market offerings. All of this consolidates us as one of the most appealing entertainment options.”
P8 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Two Dominican legislators with links to betting businesses have admitted to paying bribes on a monthly basis to former officials from the gambling regulatory body. According to the Public Ministry, corrupt officials took in around $400,000 a month in a scheme which all took place under the protection of the then Minister of Finance.
Te legislators linked to betting centres, who did not want to be identified, said that they had paid millions of pesos in extortion money. “We are living through very difficult times. We had to pay religiously every month,” said one lawmaker talking to local newspaper Diario Libre. Te other deputy told the newspaper that many sports betting and lottery outlets went bankrupt due to pressure from corrupt officials during the previous administration.
According to Diario Libre, as many as nine Dominican deputies are owners or are part of consortiums of gambling businesses. Prosecutors announced that Deputy Sergio Moya, will be charged for alleged corruption and
Brazil Sports betting tax rate confirmed
A taxation rate of 15 per cent on GGR on sports betting was confirmed during a public hearing held by Te Finance and Taxation commission in the Chamber of Deputiesto.
As well as confirming the taxation of 15 per cent on GGR on sports betting at the hearing, new measures will require sports betting companies have their headquarters in Brazil and will need to meet minimum capital requirement in order to obtain a licence. Te tax rate is the same as that in place in the United Kingdom, which has a mature market and a high rate of channelisation.
In addition, the Provisional Measure will regulate sports betting only and that casino games will not be allowed, leaving the National Congress to finish discussions on the legalisation of other types of games.
Te debate was attended by
members of the sector and institutions such as the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL), the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), the Gambling Commission of Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and the Federal Revenue of Brazil (RFB) which is in charge of federal taxes on individuals and companies. Te special adviser to the executive Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance was also present.
Deputy Júnior Mano, who asked for the debate to discuss the regulation of sports betting, stated that sports betting operators receive a high volume of money and, consequently, a decent profit. “Part of this profit is converted into sponsorship for the clubs and, in exchange, the bookmakers receive advertising and publicity for their brand. Tis way, more profit is generated and more money can be invested in the development of the team – a lucrative system for both parties,” the Deputy explained.
being part of the fraudulent structure created in order divert funds from gambling businesses. Last Tursday the legislator denied the accusations against him and said that he had never received any money irregularly from the Dominican State nor had he pressured or charged business owners to give him money.
Te corruption case, called Operation Squid (Operación Calamar) by the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca) involves more than a dozen politicians and former cabinet members. According to the accusation, in the period 2016-2020, senior officials constituted a network of illegal collections that may have amassed as much as 19,700m Dominican pesos, some US$360m, making it the largest case of corruption in the Dominican Republic.
Te former directors of Casinos and Gambling, Oscar Chalas Guerrero and Julián Omar Fernández, were also implicated as part of the anti corruption case.
Curaçao
Ainsworth Game Technology's digital portfolio of online slots will be available to betting and software provider NuxGame’s clients after the two parties penned a content agreement.
NuxGame will benefit from adapted versions of AWP Machine titles such as Fortune Tree, Mad Millions, and the Super 7’s series, which appeal to both land-based and online slot enthusiasts. Te latest agreement for NuxGame follows a string of similar deals as it expands its content offering, recently partnering with Turbo Games and Amigo Gaming.
Daniel Heywood, NuxGame's Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Adding an extra layer to our already pristine online casino portfolio, Ainsworth Game Technology’s classic digital games provide the perfect inclusion for our operator clients looking to engage with a new demographic and capture fans of land-based casino titles."
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86
