Compliance Updates

EGBA Supports Changes to Poland’s Tax Base for Online Sports Betting

Published

5 years ago

November 8, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

According to a new opinion paper by Professor Konrad Raczkowski, Poland’s former finance minister, replacing Poland’s high turnover-based tax for online sports betting with a tax based on gross gaming revenue (GGR) would contribute to a more viable and attractive online gambling market for the country’s sports bettors and raise more tax revenues for the state.

The EGBA supports changes to Poland’s tax base for online sports betting and the introduction of a sensible GGR-based tax in the country.

Poland’s current 12% turnover tax on online sports betting, equal to a 55-65% GGR tax, is one of the highest online sports betting taxes in the EU. According to Professor Raczkowski, only 2 out of the 20 companies which hold online sports betting licenses in the country turn a profit. As a result, over 20% of Polish bettors use websites which are neither licensed, regulated nor taxed in Poland, which is one of the lowest channelisation rates in Europe.

To correct this, Professor Rackowski recommends a GGR tax of around 20% to “achieve a real decrease in the size of the shadow economy [grey market] in Poland’s bookmaking industry”. The EGBA believes that such a GGR tax rate is sensible, in line with other European countries, would reduce offshore gambling, by providing Polish sports bettors with more choice locally and incentivising most of them to play with Poland’s regulated sports betting websites, and consequently generate more tax revenues for the state.

Evidence from other European countries (and the US) shows that a sensible GGR-based tax of around 20% is a pre-requisite to ensure that an online gambling market is viable: that most of a country’s bettors play within the regulated environment, on websites which are licensed in that country, and apply its consumer protection measures for online gambling. EGBA also believes that a multi-licensing regime for online casino and poker in Poland, which is currently provided by a monopoly, would also help better meet the needs and expectations of Poland’s bettors.

“EGBA welcomes the ongoing discussions on the future of Poland’s online gambling regulation and supports changes to the tax base for online sports betting. The current turnover tax is punitively high and not conducive to a viable online gambling market which meets the needs and expectations of Polish players. Poland is a large gambling market and has a great love for sports, and a sensible GGR-based tax would be an incentive for virtually all Polish players to play with regulated websites and for more of Europe’s betting companies, including EGBA members, to consider applying for an online sports betting license. These companies would not only support Polish sports through sponsorships and other revenues, but also pay gaming taxes and contribute to a more viable market which is attractive to Polish bettors and offers them a safe and regulated environment to play in,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary-General of EGBA, said.

BETER

BETER wins Illinois approval to distribute Setka Cup betting content

Published

6 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

beter-wins-illinois-approval-to-distribute-setka-cup-betting-content

BETER has received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to add its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis product to the state’s Sports Wagering catalog, expanding its regulated US footprint into Illinois.

The approval allows licensed Illinois operators to offer Setka Cup content, including live data and live streams, according to the company. BETER said the content is already available to Illinois bettors via bet365, and that additional operator launches are planned.

Illinois is the eighth US state where BETER’s exclusive content is available, the company said, following Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Entering Illinois is another significant step in our US expansion and reinforces BETER’s position as a leading provider of fast-betting content in the world’s most exciting sports wagering market.

“Demand for high-velocity, 24/7 content continues to accelerate across the US, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that shift. With eight states now under our belt, we have clear momentum and a long-term vision that goes well beyond individual state launches.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Securing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board is a testament to the rigorous regulatory work our team undertakes in every jurisdiction we enter. Each US state has its own framework and requirements, and our commitment to full alignment with those standards is non-negotiable.

“The US remains a strategically vital market for BETER, and we continue to work actively to secure approvals in additional key states. We are building real scale in this market, with much more to come.”

The post BETER wins Illinois approval to distribute Setka Cup betting content appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETER

BETER expands US footprint with Illinois approval

Published

7 hours ago

June 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

beter-expands-us-footprint-with-illinois-approval

BETER, the award-winning provider of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports, has expanded its US presence after its exclusive Setka Cup table tennis content was added to the Sports Wagering catalog in the State of Illinois.

The approval was granted by the Illinois Gaming Board, the regulatory and law enforcement agency responsible for overseeing all licensed casino gambling, video gaming, and sports wagering in the state, and it allows BETER to provide licensed operators in Illinois with its Setka Cup content, including live data and live streams, for the first time.

Illinois marks the eighth US state in which BETER’s exclusive content is now available, following successful launches in Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina.

The content is already available for local bettors via bet365, a long-standing partner of BETER, with additional operator launches planned in the near future.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide, offering up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

Its esports portfolio includes the ESportsBattle product featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis. Its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup table tennis content and the BSKT Cup basketball league.

All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, as well as sports federations.

BETER will also exhibit at SBC Summit Americas for the first time at Stand 813 from June 9–11, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion across the United States.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Entering Illinois is another significant step in our US expansion and reinforces BETER’s position as a leading provider of fast-betting content in the world’s most exciting sports wagering market.

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “Securing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board is a testament to the rigorous regulatory work our team undertakes in every jurisdiction we enter. Each US state has its own framework and requirements, and our commitment to full alignment with those standards is non-negotiable.

The post BETER expands US footprint with Illinois approval appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Compliance Updates

Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform

Published

5 days ago

May 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

armenia-launches-sweeping-gambling-payment-reform

Armenia accelerated one of the most aggressive gambling regulatory reforms in Eurasia after approving new measures to control digital platforms, advertising, payments and financial supervision across the betting sector. The strategy promoted by the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan aims to strengthen legal gambling operations, increase fiscal oversight and tighten control over offshore operators in a market that has expanded dramatically over the past decade.

The reform is being driven by the Ministry of Finance of Armenia led in 2026 by Vahe Hovhannisyan, together with the State Revenue Committee headed by Rustam Badasyan. The main political architect behind the changes is MP Hayk Sargsyan from the ruling Civil Contract party.

The core of the reform focuses on payments and financial monitoring. Armenia plans to block transfers to unlicensed gambling operators, strengthen AML/KYC requirements and connect licensed platforms directly to state monitoring systems operating in real time. Armenia is advancing the software operator selection for its centralised gaming monitoring center, following the legal framework established in early 2024 to connect platforms directly to state systems in real time.

The 2026 update focuses on accelerating the public tender for the private operator, rather than the initial creation of the monitoring infrastructure, with the State Revenue Committee (SRC) leading the technological implementation. The fiscal framework is also becoming stricter. Since July 1, 2025, Armenia has applied a 10% turnover tax on gambling operations, while online gaming license costs doubled in April 2025 and are scheduled to continue increasing annually through 2028.

According to official figures cited by lawmakers, Armenia’s gambling turnover reached approximately AMD 6.3 trillion in 2023, equivalent to nearly €14 billion, while online casino deposits climbed to AMD 811 billion during 2024.

The government also tightened gambling advertising restrictions, limiting promotions to luxury hotels, border checkpoints and authorised operator channels. Armenian authorities argue that the new regulatory model is designed to protect legal operators, reinforce financial traceability and modernise state supervision over one of Eurasia’s fastest-growing digital industries.

The post Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.