Radical changes in the gaming market
The shift to online games and the pandemic turned the tables. The Gaming Control Commission is planning major changes. The aim is the viability of legal providers and the safeguarding of public revenues.To change outdated settings that lead to distortions the gaming market is planned by the Gaming Supervision and Control Committee, in order to provide solutions to the loss of revenue of the Greek public from the reduced gaming activity in natural casino.
In this context, the Commission, in order to strengthen the supervision and control of the market, has planned a series of interventions that it is launching for the next period, while in the same context it started a dialogue with the owners of physical casinos, in order to improve their operating conditions, which most are considered anachronistic due to significant changes in the gaming market.
In fact, the EEEP gave a new deadline to the owners of the casinos to submit their positions as it was initially set by the president of the Authority D. Janato today's date (September 15). The new date they will be invited to submit their proposals is the 15th of October.
The proposals that will be submitted will be examined by the Authority in collaboration with legal and if required with a financial advisor, in order to submit to the competent bodies its proposals for improving the regulatory framework.
In fact, the Commission already:
- He suggested to the finance minister its improvement regulatory framework regarding the levels of compliance with the calculation of the "minimum cash reserve", a regulation which due to the general decline of the market had become completely anachronistic.
- He called for an improvement in the flexibility possibilities of the casinos regarding the opening hours of the individual sectors of the games that these companies conduct (table games or slots).
The interventions that are coming
Some interventions are considered one way in order to start the licensing of casinos with the new EKAZ licenses, a process which has been delayed due to the problematic casinos. They include:- Development of a new platform - application for the quick management of complaints. The aim is to evaluate the complaints made to the Commission as quickly as possible and to send a response to the complainant. At the moment, the complaints that reach the Authority are handled by the few remaining employees. However, due to the understaffing of the EEEP, delays are observed and for this reason a new special department will be created that will receive and evaluate in real time the complaints that arrive.
- Establishment of a 24-hour service for the supervision and support of benefits both online games and physical casinos. The new service will be staffed with staff from both the service and new employees.
- Completion of the tender for the advanced system that will monitor all online game providers which have been licensed by the EEEP. By the end of the year, the committee is expected to have completed the relevant tender it has announced, so that the new system can be installed and offer an online connection to all the data of the electronic providers.
- Changes in legislation for the 10 casinos operating in the country. Through proposals and dialogue, a new Regulatory Framework will be formed while at the same time research is being done on the European market, in order to make all the changes required based on the new data.
- Concerning the online games, the EEEP will examine the way it taxes online game players in order to find a fairer solution, so that neither the public loses significant revenue nor players, due to increased taxation, turn to illegal gambling.
- Commissioning of a study in order to identify a possible benefit from expansion of gambling in areas of tourist interest. The preparation of the study has been assigned to a special consultant, Pricewaterhouse, and its start is expected within September. In particular, Pricewaterhouse will prepare a special report on the viability of mini casinos in large tourist and hotel units that attract a large number of tourists, who do not have easy access to licensed casinos.
