Huge Changes to Czech Gaming EMEA
Legislation has been passed by the Prague City Council approving a decree banning all slots, VLTs and gaming terminals in country’s capital
Te Czech Republic Ministry of Finance is also launching a self- exclusion register that will allow gamblers to block themselves from all types in gambling.
CZECH REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT
BULGARIA – Slot models displayed by EGT displayed at ICE; the G55J1 VIP, G50C Up, G50J2 Up and St from EGT’s General series, are now in production with the company reporting multiple pre-orders have already been taken. The first deliveries will be for customers from Bulgaria, Croatia, St. Marten and North Cyprus with more to follow for other regions.
Stanislav Stanev, Sales and Marketing Director of EGT, said: “Since the cabinets’ debut at the show received such strong positive initial feedback from our potential customers, we decided to accelerate the machines’ time to market. Our industry slowly begins to recover and EGT remains true to its core value to give more to both operators and players. So it is the right moment to launch our most advanced General series new models. I am confident that they will be able to unfold their potential and to play an important role for the sector’s stability and long- term growth.”
A highlight of the new cabinets is the diversity of curved monitors, presented in a single slot line. They are shaped like the letters C and straight and inverted J (marked in the machines’ names like C, J1 and J2) and are a milestone in EGT’s product development. 50 and 55 inches in size, they are vast, frameless, with exceptional HD visual quality creating a felt-like-real gaming experience with integrated touch screens. Design, combining top ergonomics with modern aesthetics, efficient Exciter III platform, keyboard with dynamic touch display, stereo sound and built-in USB port for fast charging are also some of the included features.
ARMENIA – Armenia is reported to be tightening its gambling regulations, with measures due to impact both the location and size of betting venues. Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan has told bookmakers they’re now required to operate solely at locations “a certain distance away from heavily populated areas, as well as educational or cultural institutions, governmental offices or hospitals.”
As it stands, bookmakers are permitted to operate across Armenia, with the majority of venues located within densely populated residential areas. However, the new regulations mean that bookmakers in Yerevan will have to relocate their offices to more than 150m from the listed areas. Elsewhere, the distance is 100m, with the exception of administrative centers of Syunik, Meghri and Tavush where the limit is set at 50m. “This is negatively impacting the society by creating the dangers of easily being allured with gambling,” said Janjughazyan. “In particular, such facilities should have additional premises, in particular, a foyer, which is to be separated from the general gambling hall for checking the IDs of people.”
P18 NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA
Two huge pieces of legislation have made progress in Czechia with the Prague City Council approving a decree banning all slots, VLTs and gaming terminals in Prague, whilst the Ministry of Finance has also launched a self-exclusion register that will allow gamblers to block themselves from all types in gambling.
Firstly, the decree in the capital banning slots will ban all mechanical, electromechanical and electronic slots and video lottery terminals in Prague, whilst allowing traditional table gaming to remain. Although the ban would kick in immediately, existing licences would be honoured, with the last expiring in 2024. Operators will still be able to run casino venues that offer live gaming services within the 16 city districts across Prague that permit this form of legal gambling.
Prague Councillor Hana Kordová Marvanová said: "In Prague, we decided to follow the path of a blanket ban on slot machines throughout the city, because we set ourselves the goal of reducing the most dangerous forms of gambling, which include playing slot machines. Statistics
show that limiting the availability of gambling has a significant positive impact in the area of negative social phenomena, such as pathological gambling or non-payment. We have promised all parts of the city that they do not have to worry about the loss of revenue from taxes on technical games, which they have so far used to finance public needs such as culture, education, sport or social affairs.”
Te nationwide self-exclusion register launched as a pilot scheme from September 15 to December. Gamblers named on the register will not be able to gamble or set up another user account with any licensed operator. Operators can also add customers to the register.
Czech Minister of Finance, Alena Schillerová, said: “Tanks to this register, it will no longer be possible for money paid out in benefits to end up in gaming machines, as is unfortunately still the case in many incidences. Te launch of a system that can exclude vulnerable groups or pathological gamblers from the temptation of hard gambling will help not only them, but also their families and those close to them.”
Spain Greentube partners with Casino Gran Madrid
Greentube has broadened its horizons in Spain with the signing of a distribution deal with national operator Casino Gran Madrid Online. Te supplier’s online adaptions of popular land-based titles such as Book of Ra deluxe and Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe will be available to Casino Gran Madrid Online’s customers as part of the agreement. In addition, Greentube is also set to introduce the first in a series of novelty jackpot games under the Diamond Link brand.
Te partnership further strengthens Greentube’s presence in Spain with Casino Gran Madrid Online being the fourth operator to take on the supplier’s content in the country.
Michael Bauer, CFO/CGO at Greentube, said: “Our games have proven very successful in the Spanish market, driven in part by players already being familiar with our content from the land-based
sector. Casino Gran Madrid Group is a leading operator in Spain and a long-standing partner to NOVOMATIC and we are thrilled to extend that partnership to further fuel the growth of the operator’s online brand.”
José Félix Herreros, Online Country Manager at Casino Gran Madrid Online, said: “Greentube’s games portfolio is packed with titles that are known worldwide for their innovative features and exciting game play. Tis partnership will enable us to attract an even wider audience to our existing online offering and will ensure players keep coming back for more.”
Many of the titles in Greentube’s games portfolio are familiar to the operator’s players, having gained popularity in its land-based venues. Founded in 1981, Casino Gran Madrid Group is one of the leading gaming firms in Spain, operating three land-based casinos alongside its online brand.
Greece
Greek operator OPAP saw its revenues fall by 34.8 per cent year-on-year in the first half of the year due to the CVID-19- related closures. Revenue for the six months to 30 June dropped to €507.9m with lottery revenue falling by 32 per cent to €257.5m. Sports betting dropped by 33.1 per cent to €128.4m, whilst Video lottery terminal (VLT) revenue dropped by 36.8 per cent to €88.4m. OPAP acting CEO Jan Karas said: “2020 has been an extremely demanding year so far, with the coronavirus pandemic leading to unprecedented challenges for both businesses and society. Te decisive and prompt actions taken by OPAP to mitigate the pandemic’s impact for all stakeholders have been reflected in the company’s financial results, which were once more sound, as well as in its evolving socioeconomic footprint.”
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