Wire EMEA
Towns and Villages Banned from Betting
Romania's Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has fast-tracked a law banning gambling in small towns and villages of less than 15,000 people.
Te ban will affect most of Romania’s 27 licensed operators including Rizio, SuperBet, StanleyBet, Fortuna Entertainment and Mozzart Kladionica.
ROMANIA LEGISLATION
Greece - Mont Parnes relocation site approved Plans to relocate the Regency Casino Mont Parnes in Parnitha, Athens, have received a boost with the Greek Environment and Energy Ministry approving an environmental impact study for a new entertainment and hospitality hub called Project Voria in Maroussi in northern Athens.
The project to relocate the mountain-top casino, which was derailed in 2021, would see the licence move to the Dilaveri estate in Marousi. North Star Entertainment is the owner of the Parnitha casino with Regency Entertainment the main shareholder of 51 per cent of North Star Entertainment, with the rest 49 per cent, controlled by the Greek State.
Project Voria is a €250m investment by North Star and is the first strategic investment to be implemented in Athens’ northern suburbs in many years. It would see the construction of a five-star hotel, event and conference venues, a variety of dining and entertainment options, as well as the casino. the project devotes 25,000 square metres out of the total floor space of 55,000 square metres for public areas and green spaces. Despite a 2023 presidential decree permitting the casino’s relocation, the project had faced opposition with a challenge at Greece’s administrative court and another four lawsuits.
Malta - Altenar appoints Hill Altenar has bolstered its executive team with the appointment of Sam Hill as its Sales Director. Mr. Hill boasts almost 15 years’ experience within the industry, with this latest
hire encompassing Altenar’s ambition to further extend its outreach globally.
Starting in the betting industry in 2010, Samuel has previously served as Business Development Director at Betgenius, Head of B2B Sales at BetVictor and most recently, Senior Sales Director at IMG. He will now be heading up the Altenar sales team, securing further high-profile partnerships across the globe, including LatAm and Europe.
After previously working with the sportsbook as a client, Mr. Hill will be tasked with promoting and expanding Altenar’s sales strategy, tailored specifically to different jurisdictions and delivering an increase in revenue and company growth. He will also work closely with the commercial team.
Commenting on the new appointment, Charlie Williams, Commercial Director at Altenar, said: “We are excited to have a knowledgeable, well- respected, industry veteran such as Sam Hill join the sales team.”
P18 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Romania has confirmed gambling will be completely banned in small towns and villages with populations of less than 15,000 people. Te proposal was passed into legislation as the so- called ‘law of slot machines’ by deputies in the lower house of parliament.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who fast- tracked the law as an ‘executive order’, said: “Te good old days of those who profited greedily by selling people’s illusions are over. Te Parliament voted today to remove gambling slums from more than 90 per cent of the localities in Romania. Protecting the people should be the priority, not the extra money raised to the budget made on people’s suffering. We have increased taxes on gambling, we have better regulated online gaming, we have banned gambling in towns under 15,000 and we will continue to take action until things are under control. I’m not afraid of anyone and I’ll go all the way.”
Te ban will come into effect within ten days of being officially enacted, affecting most of
Romania’s 27 licensed operators including market leaders Rizio, SuperBet, StanleyBet, Fortuna Entertainment and Mozzart Kladionica. Industry figures have complained that they were not consulted but hope that the authorities could get control of the black market as they suggested. Te National Gaming Office, the state body that monitors and approves the sector, currently has 12,000 registered sports betting, bingo, casino, lottery rooms.
Alfred Simonis, the leader of the Social Democrats, said: “It is the first law adopted in Parliament in 30 years against this mafia that has controlled the political world until now. Right now, we are fighting an industry that has a total turnover of €10bn to €12bn.”
Last year, the Ministry of Finance introduced a huge hike in licence fees with an online licence costing €500,000 a year, a lottery licence €200,000, VLT licences €100 per machine, casino licences €4,000 per table, poker €5,000 per club, bingo in gaming halls €5,000 and licences for bingo organised via TV €500,000.
Latvia Riga’s gambling ban ruled unconstitutional
Following a legal challenge by a host of operators, the Constitutional Court of Latvia has ruled that the prohibition on gambling organisations within Rīga, which led to the closure of 42 gambling venues in the city centre, is unconstitutional.
Brought in six years ago by Riga City Council, the ban prohibited gambling in Rīga except in four or five-star hotels. Te council then moved to revoke the licences for 139 gambling halls outside of the city in last September 2023 giving them five years to close.
Te council’s decision was challenged by Olympic Casino, Alfor and Joker who claimed that the spatial plan violated Article 105 of the Constitution, which safeguards property use and licence restrictions through lawful channels. In its ruling, the Constitutional Court highlighted that gambling was
a legal commercial activity subject to fair competition. It ruled that the municipality failed to give reasons for prohibiting the legal activity of gambling in certain zones.
Te Constitutional Court emphasised that the local government, when establishing restrictions on the organisation of gambling, must ensure, on the one hand, compliance with the fundamental rights guaranteed to merchants in Article 105 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and other norms of the Constitution and, on the other hand, the protection of the rights of persons by reducing the possible risks of addiction.
Te Latvian Gambling Business Association said the move violated the rights of merchants to property, the principle of legitimate expectations, as well as the rights of foreign investors.
France
After multiple setbacks, the Grasse casino in the Alpes- Maritimes region of France is rising from its ashes following its closure in August last year. Te casino’s takeover by the Infiniti group was addressed during the municipal council of December 5, since when, major work has been carried out to bring the gaming floor up to date and up to current standards.
Te directors of the Infinity Casino group also confirmed that the kitchens would also be completely redesigned and brought up to standard. Featuring two bars, it will offer casino visitors gastronomy similar to that offered in the group’s Belgian establishments.
Infiniti confirmed that around 50 slot machines will be deployed in the Alpes-Maritimes casino. Tey will be accompanied by 20 electronic English roulette stations and a Black Jack table. A team of 25 to 30 employees will ensure the comfort and peace of mind of the players.
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