Plenary debate on gambling tax rate increase scheduled for second week of November
The plenary debate on the government's next year's tax proposals – including the proposed increase of the gambling tax rate – has been scheduled to take place during the week of November 11.
In its most recent proposals, the Dutch government announced that it plans to increase the current gambling tax rate of 30.5% to 34.2% from January 1, 2025, and increase it even further to 37.8% from 2026.
MP Chris Stoffer (SGP) has proposed an amendment to the Tax Bill that would immediately increase the gambling tax rate to 37.8% from 2025 onward. It is unclear whether this amendment could count on majority support, especially since several other political groups are increasingly expressing concerns (p. 79ff) over the adverse consequences of the intended gambling tax increase.
However, these concerns may very well translate into a lower tax rate for “low risk’ forms of gambling, i.e., lotteries, rather than an across-the-board decrease of the proposed gambling tax rate.
FDJ completes Kindred deal, acquires over 90% of shares
La Française des Jeux (FDJ) has declared to the markets that investors of Kindred Group Plc have accepted its offer to acquire the Stockholm-listed online gambling group.
On 2 October, the final day of the offer period, FDJ was authorized to acquire 196 million of Kindred’s Swedish depositary receipts, taking ownership of +90.66% of the group’s capital.
The acquisition allows FDJ to enter new markets, including the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium. The expanded business remains committed to being “100% active in regulated markets.”
In a statement, FDJ explained: “This €2.5 billion transaction creates a European champion with a diversified and balanced profile, based on monopoly activities like lotteries in France and Ireland, and online sports betting and gaming in open competition across Europe.”
Save the date: The Las Vegas Book launch party
Years in the making, The Las Vegas Book, a 450-page luxury coffee table book illustrating the fascinating history of Las Vegas with more than 300 impressive photographs, will soon start rolling off the press.
The book's author, Joris Dekkers cordially invites Gaming in Holland members to the Las Vegas Book launch party on Monday, December 9. Location and time TBA.
Get your signed copy and enjoy a festive glass of champagne!
Don't miss the 2024 Gaming in Germany Conference
Ronald Benter, Co-Chair of the German regulator GGL will headline the 2024 Gaming in Germany Conference. The event, which is set to take place Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the five-star Hotel Adlon Kempinski in the heart of historic Berlin, will once again be THE place to meet key decision makers and to get the latest information on Germany's online gambling market.
Confirmed speakers include Dr. Jörg Hoffman, Senior Partner, Melchers Law Firm; Mathias Dahms, President, Deutscher Sportwettenverband; Dr. Dirk Quermann, President, Deutscher Online Casinoverband; Dr. Andreas Ditsche, CEO, iGaming.com; and many more!
Register now: https://bit.ly/GiG2024!
ICE 2025 registration now open
ICE 2025 will take place for the first time at its new home, Barcelona's Fira Grand Via, on January 20-22.
Over 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the world's largest global gaming event.
Registration for ICE 2025 is now open.
PS: If you are exhibiting at ICE (or otherwise participating) and need help organizing your tailor-made evening event, please consider contacting Sapyns: https://www.sapyns.com/ice2025.
Live webinar | ESG compliance: A global paradigm shift
With initiatives like the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) becoming more commonplace, the regulatory burden around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) intensifies.
If you would like to learn more about ESG and ESG compliance, sign up for the live webinar The spectre of ESG compliance: A global paradigm shift, which is scheduled to take place Thursday October 17 at 15:00 CET.
The webinar is organized by Vixio Business Intelligence.
Holland Casino to close Zandvoort venue
Holland Casino has announced that it will close its Zandvoort venue, the state-owned operator's oldest. The venue is no longer profitable, the operator said in a statement.
Zandvoort is a traditional bathing resort located close to Amsterdam, where Holland Casino already operates two other venues.
The decision follows the recent publication of disappointing H1 results, as well as the announcement of significant increases in the Dutch gambling tax rate from 2025 onward.
Holland Casino CEO Petra de Ruiter commented: “For Holland Casino, the closure is essential to our ongoing project of creating a sustainable future for the company, in which we can continue to contribute to a safe and responsible gaming environment. At the same time, the closure means an emotional farewell to the very first venue that Holland Casino opened in back 1976.”
Holland Casino is currently licensed to operate fourteen venues in the Netherlands. The decision to close its Zandvoort venue means that one of those licenses will not be used for the time being.
Other news
Gamanza Games has launched its Arcade Casino Games portfolio with Nederlandse Loterij's Winnitt brand.
An uptick in online casino spending has contributed to an overall 4.3% y-o-y growth of Denmark's gambling market in the month of August.
President Lula da Silva vowed that he would “end” sports betting in Brazil if regulation does not work.
Comments