Germany plans to toughen the fight against the unlicensed market. Spain wants to levy taxes on even small gambling winnings. In the meantime, Top Sport received a fine from the Lithuanian regulator. Denmark breaks records for the number of blocked sites. And Sweden will start issuing B2B licenses in 2023.

DSWV wants to intensify the fight against illegal operators

German authorities and regulators have received a call from the local betting trade association Deutscher Sportwettenverband (DSWV), which is focusing on the fight against the rapidly growing black gambling market in the country. The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) organized Germany’s inaugural Gambling Addiction Action Day, and the association took the opportunity to make the call.

According to Mathias Dahms, who is the president of DSWV, the association has found over 400 illegal sites accessible to anyone in Germany. These gambling platforms are not licensed, and they use various tricks that contribute to the development of gambling addiction among many players.

Spanish authorities want to reform declarations for gambling winnings

According to a new SBC report, the Spanish Ministry of Finance wants gamblers to declare their winnings up to 300 euros. As of today, Spanish players must declare their cash prizes in two different documents depending on their preferred gambling activity.

When gamblers receive winnings in casino games or through successful sports betting, their tax rate is based on exactly how much money they won. The bigger the prize, the more taxes they have to pay. On the other hand, players who win state lotteries are subject to a 20% tax rate.

If the government approves the proposed amendment, Spanish gamblers will also have to include all winnings that do not exceed €300 in their declarations.

Lithuanian regulator fined Top Sport operator

Top Sport UAB, an operator that offers betting services on the Lithuanian market, has been fined €15 000 by the Gaming Control Authority. The reason for the fine was an incorrectly installed video surveillance system in two land-based facilities that belong to the bookmaker.

The regulator stated that a video camera designed to track all visitors at one of the two facilities recorded a blurry image. On top of that, the investigation revealed that financial transactions carried out at both betting outlets were also not captured by video cameras.

Since the operator violated the Lithuanian Gambling Law in both cases, it will have to pay the mentioned fine. However, the regulator also noted that Top Sport UAB could appeal against this punitive measure.

In Denmark, 82 illegal websites were blocked

Danish gambling regulator Spillemyndigheden will continue to block 82 illegal platforms that have targeted local players. This decision was made by the court in Frederiksberg, and it is a record in terms of the fight against the unlicensed gambling market.

Spillemyndigheden relies on automated search tools and messages from regular consumers to track down illegal sites offering illegal gambling to Danes. First, the regulator requires the unlicensed site to stop any activity in the country directly. And if the platform does not comply with this requirement, the authority goes to court to block it through internet service providers.

Sweden will start accepting applications for B2B licenses in 2023

Swedish B2B suppliers will be able to start applying for a license in the spring of 2023. Spelinspektionen, which is the local gambling regulator, said that this process would start on March 1. At the same time, it is worth noticing that the government has not yet prepared legislative provisions for the implementation of such licenses.

To obtain the license, suppliers will have to comply with the rules that were made public in March this year. The application will cost companies SEK120 000 (€10 994). Besides that, the government indicated that it plans to issue licenses to about 70 software providers initially.

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