GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 49 - April 2021

A BRAVE NEW WORLD here is greater zeal in a convert than there is in someone who starts off down the road. The enthu- siasm with which some previously reticent jurisdictions have embraced internet gambling in the last 12 months is remarkable. All that was needed to bring about the conversion was a once-in-a-century pandemic, which caused the closure of most gambling venues and the almost total curtailment of international travel. The embracement of all things digital in gambling and other fields does provide opportunities for affiliates and operators alike in both emerging markets and services. Global Betting andGaming Consultants’ provisional data for 2020 estimates that the global gambling sector lost $100 billion in revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Losses of that magnitude are going to focus the minds of both regulators and operators, which see tax revenues and profits slumping. It is entirely understandable, therefore, that long-delayed internet gambling regulation in emerg- ing markets suddenly made substantial progress in 2020. Emerging Markets to Watch Ukraine More than a decade ago, Ukraine followed in the steps of Russia and banned gambling in the country. Ever since the 2009 ban was enforced, legislators have been proposing bills that would legalize forms of gambling. It was a process that dragged on until 2020, when it was finally resolved with the passing of a new gambling act. Under the new laws, online gambling will be permitted — sports betting, casino games and poker. Parimatch is one of the first operators to be approved for a license in the country. A country of 44 million people, with increasing internet usage, Ukraine could develop into a successful iGaming market. Brazil Just as in Ukraine, Brazil has been trying to overhaul its gambling regulation for several years. Progress has been slow and compli- cated by the fact that there have often been several bills in existence simultaneously. Different bills have had a specific focus on certain interests. A bill permitting sports betting both online and in retail outlets was actual- ly approved in Q4 2018. Unfortunate- ly, the law gave the Ministry of Economy up to four years to compose the ad- Land-based operators, too, are looking again at internet gambling. Las Vegas Sands posted a $2 billion loss in 2020. The company has always been hesitant about getting involved in internet gambling. But, just after the passing of founder and long-time online gambling adversary Sheldon Adelson, new Sands CEO Rob Goldstein said at the start of 2021 that “digital” was among the “multitude of considerations” being assessed. He stressed, however, the company was “nowhere near a decision.” Last year, GBGC received several enquiries from retail operators —both large and small — interested in online operations because the venues in their home markets had been forced to close. The enthusiasm withwhich some previously reticent jurisdictions have embraced internet gambling in the last 12months is remarkable . All thatwas needed to bring about the conversionwas a once-in-a- centurypandemic , which caused the closure ofmost gambling venues and the almost total curtailment of international travel . G P W A t i m e s . o r g 24