Clearing the path for online licenses in Slovakia
A severe setback for Slovakian President Andrej Kiska in his struggle with parliament and the government is paving the way for a better environment for those wishing to obtain licenses to run online casinos in Slovakia.
Stricter player protection sought
The Slovakian parliament has disregarded a veto by the president, who sought to strengthen laws on gambling regulation. Kiska, a newcomer to politics without political affiliations, had prevented the already-passed law from being implemented shortly before Christmas.
The President asked for stricter player protection, such as the exclusion of bankrupts from gambling. This was not without a touch of irony, as the successful businessman Kiska had previously led his first company into bankruptcy. Additionally, he requested that state income from gambling be allocated directly to assistance and counseling services for gambling addicts.
"I have some reservations about the adopted law" - Andrej Kiska, President of the Slovak Republic
Opposition lends a hand
The Slovakian parliament, the National Council, has overturned Kiska's veto, with the help of members of the opposition. In December, industry experts had believed it highly unlikely that the Social Democrat-led government under Peter Pellegrini would achieve success in this matter. Finance Minister Peter Kazimir can now implement his bill, which was temporarily halted, before he takes up his position as President of the Slovak National Bank in March.
The defeat of the bold president clears the way for more lenient regulations on online gambling in Slovakia, following the lead of Denmark, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Romania. Ministry of Finance Kazimir views the new regulations as so exemplary that he recently recommended them to his counterpart in Montenegro.
A change of course by the finance minister
As recently as 2017, the Ministry of Finance in Slovakia threatened to penalize well-known industry players severely if they offered their services to players in Slovakia online. A new supervisory authority will now begin receiving applications for licenses from March 1.
Domestic and foreign companies can apply for these licenses, which cost three million euros and are valid for ten years, with an additional option to extend for five years. Licenses may be issued as early as July 1.
Under the new law, traditional casinos and gaming halls in Slovakia must abide by updated regulations for the installation of gaming machines. In the future, there will be a maximum of 15 machines in a gaming establishment, all from the same manufacturer. Bars and restaurants are no longer allowed to install any machines.
In the past, gaming establishments in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava benefited from the fact that small-scale gaming on slot machines is no longer allowed in neighboring Vienna. Bratislava, a city of nearly half a million, had more than 200 gaming halls in 2016. An initiative to ban gambling in the city sparked emotive debates and protests. Gaming establishments are still allowed to operate in Bratislava, but their licenses are expiring. Licensing of gambling in Slovakia rests with the local authorities.
The state rakes in the money
A tax of 22.07% is collected on the income generated by online casinos. President Kiska objected to the government's refusal to specify how the additional revenue would be used. He also expressed concerns about data protection, as the planned transfer of copies of customers' identity documents was insufficiently secure.
Kiska has clashed with the government on several occasions and has expressed dissatisfaction with the political style in his country. Slovakia, home to a population of 5.5 million, has faced criticism for its corruption. Since joining the EU in 2004, it has attracted international investors with its low-tax policy. However, companies now complain about a lack of legal certainty and unreliable authorities.
The murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak sparked a state crisis in the country last year, with civil demonstrations and the collapse of the government. The EU also took note of what was happening with its subsidies in Slovakia and was appalled.
Kiska has been in office since 2014 and positioned himself as a non-partisan philanthropist not associated with the Slovakian political establishment. Despite high levels of approval in polls, he will not run again in the upcoming presidential election in March. However, it is not out of the question that he will remain active in politics, possibly by founding his own party. The philanthropist and millionaire could potentially continue to have a say in legislative matters in the future.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
