Recap of iGaming Regulatory Updates for April 2021

As assumed, the soon-to-end month of April brought numerous changes in the online gambling industry of the United States. A growing number of states are opening their doors to online, mobile, and sports wagering.

Interestingly, other markets were somewhat less dynamic during the same period. Regarding Asia, some significant modifications happened in Japan and China, while Europe witnessed some updates in and Sweden.

Would you like to take a closer look at all changes which marked the iGaming industry worldwide during April 2021? This is the place for you, so keep reading!

Regulations from the United States-Brief Recap

As for the changes on the federal level in the US, legislation was introduced to Congress to repeal the federal 0.25% sports betting handle tax. Just to remind, a similar proposal was presented last year in July but didn’t .

What follows is an overview from multiple US states.

Alabama: The Senate ed legislation to permit sports wagering and casino gaming in six locations in the state. As planned, the Alabama Gaming Commission would be established to govern the industry. Regarding the proposed taxed rates on gross win, the percentage amounts to 20% for sports betting, 27% for gaming machines, and 35% for table games.

Arizona: State Governor Doug Ducey signed the retail and online sports betting bill, HB2772, into law. With this document, the activities would be permitted in the state’s 24 tribal casinos. Also, 10 licenses would be awarded to major league sports organizations. Following the enactment of the bill, the Department of Gaming began the process of developing the regulatory and tax framework to govern the industry.

Arkansas: Representative Lee Johnson introduced the HB1942, which aims to allow online sports betting in the state. According to the plans, the activity would be taxed in line with retail betting. This means that on the first $150m of gross win, a consumer would be taxed at a rate of 13%, while the percentage for the sum exceeding this amount would be 20%.

Florida: The Senate was presented the bill, SB7076. If ed, the Florida Gaming Control Commission would be established, becoming the centralized authority on gambling from 01 July 2022. Also, sports betting could become a reality as the Seminole Tribe and Governor Ron DeSantis came to understanding.

Illinois: On April 4, the in-person registration requirement for online sports betting s in the state was reintroduced. Just to remind, the requirement had been temporarily suspended since June 2020 in response to the ongoing health situation.

Maine: The Senate was introduced the bill SB1352, which aims to authorize retail and online sports wagering. If ed, the document would greenlight the state’s racetracks, OTBs, gaming machine operators, and tribes to offer retail betting and online betting. As for the tax rates, the percentage for retail is 10%, while for online betting it would be 16% of the gross win.

Maryland: Sports betting bill HB940 was ed by the legislature and progressed to the Governor for final approval. Before that, some amendments were made, limiting the max number of licenses- 30 retail and 60 for online enterprises.

New Hampshire: Legislators in the House and Senate introduced concurrent legislation to approve historical horserace betting at licensed gambling facilities in the state.

New Jersey: On 24 March, Golden Nugget launched its online sportsbook in cooperation with Scientific Games.

New York: Governor Andrew Cuomo approved the 2021-2022 budget, including language to legalize mobile sports betting in the state. The licenses will be granted through an RFP process which was scheduled to begin no later than 01 July 2021.

North Carolina: Legislation was presented to the Senate to permit online sports wagering. As planned, the bill SB688, would offer 10 to 12 licenses to commercial online operators with a proposed tax rate of 8% of the gross win.

Virginia: Governor Ralph Northam proposed amendments to gambling legislation to particularly ban “unregulated” gaming machines in operation in the state. If accepted and ed by the legislature, the restriction is expected to come into force on 01 July 2021.

Washington: The Gambling Commission reached a provisional agreement to permit the Tulalip Tribe to offer retail and on-site mobile sports betting at its facilities. Submitted as an amendment to the tribe’s Class III gaming compact with the state, the agreement needs final approval from the Commission through a vote on 10 June 2021.

Wyoming: Governor Mark Gordon signed the online sports betting bill HB133 into law on 05 April 2021. To be considered eligible for the license, the interested parties need to be operating in at least three other states.

Highlights from Europe

The month of April has been somewhat quieter in Europe. In , the state governments of Saarland and Sachsen-Anhalt approved the Interstate Treaty on Gambling, making the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen the only remaining state yet to vote on the Treaty.

Also, the Government of Sweden came up with a proposal to further extension of the online gambling restrictions imposed due to the current health crisis. As stated, the restrictions which impose a weekly deposit limit of SEK5k and a maximum bonus limit of SEK100 on online casino games are prolonged until 14 November 2021.

Any Significant Updates from Asia?

As slow-paced as the market of Europe, this exotic corner of the world hasn’t had many updates during the current month.

In Japan…

…the Casino Regulatory Commission published a range of draft regulations to cover the country’s IR casinos, suggesting the following nine games to be permitted including Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, Baccarat, Sic Bo, Pai Gow, Casino War, and Money Wheel. Until 09 May 2021, these regulations are subject to a public comment period.

Then, the Minister of Public Security in China, Zhao Kezhi, came up with plans to crack down on cross-border gambling in the country, targeting the financial and technological platforms and services that facilitate gambling. In addition to this, the Minister stressed out that the country would collaborate with offshore jurisdictions to halt the attraction of Chinese citizens to gamble internationally.