Compliance Updates
Rada Misses December Vote on Ukraine Gambling Law’s Tax Code
The Verkhovna Rada has missed its final opportunity to vote on the tax framework required to complete the outstanding technical arrangements of Ukraine’s Gambling Law.
Closing its hearings on Friday 17 December, the Rada held no vote on Bill 2713 – a proposal backed by Ukraine’s Committee on Finance that finalises the tax framework of the Gambling Law.
The vote on Bill 2713 was due to have taken place during November sittings, however, proceedings were rescheduled to a December date – frustrating Ukraine gambling stakeholders that have seen no precedent take place on the matter.
The majority backed proposal sets a flat 10% industry tax rate to be applied across all regulated gambling verticals, whilst further eliminating the previously approved “triple lock licensing fees” that would have been adopted by the Gambling Law.
The mandate of the Gambling Law was approved back in August 2020, ending Ukraine’s decade-long gambling prohibition. Though approved, the Gambling Law lacked outstanding requirements on technical provisions and taxation that required a separate assessment and vote by the Rada.
Since granting the Gambling Law’s federal approval, the Rada has missed multiple deadlines to pass Bill 2713, as its assembly chose to review all gambling tax proposals despite 2713 having the support of Ukraine’s Committee of Finance, Customs and Taxes.
Observing developments, CIS igaming consultancy 4H Agency, stated that Bill 2713 hearings had been put back once again as Rada contended with a logjam of end of year hearings as the government contends the headline issues – COVID-19 Omicron resources and arising Russian military tensions.
“We are constantly monitoring the situation with everything that concerns gambling regulations in Ukraine and today we were expecting it to finally unfold into something more meaningful than another delay,” said Ilya Machavariani, Senior Partner at 4H Agency
“Unfortunately, the Parliament has ran out of time to hear the Bill 2713 today. We’ll see if it finally gets to the voting in two weeks’ time. At the moment, the prospects of that are rather grim.”
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has announced the appointment of four new trustees to its Board, each bringing unique expertise and leadership to strengthen IAGR’s global regulatory efforts:
- Anders Dorph, Danish Gambling Authority (Europe)
- Peter Kesitilwe Emolemo, Gambling Authority of Botswana (Africa)
- Kevin Mullally, General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (Asia/Oceania)
- Louis Rogacki, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (North America)
IAGR President Ben Haden said, ‘I’m delighted to welcome our four new trustees to the IAGR Board. Their diverse expertise and leadership across different jurisdictions will bring fresh perspectives to our work, further strengthening our global approach to gaming regulation.
‘I look forward to collaborating with Peter, Louis, Kevin and Anders as we continue to foster innovation and drive forward effective, responsible regulation for the benefit of the global gaming community.
‘We also extend a big thank you to Trude Høgseth Felde and Mabutho Zwane for their dedicated service as they complete their terms on the Board, and I’m pleased to announce that Jason Lane will continue for another term as a Trustee.’
As a leading forum for gaming regulators worldwide, IAGR enables members to meet, share information, discuss legislative developments, exchange views and learn best practices in gaming regulation.
In recent news, IAGR has also confirmed that its 2025 annual conference will be held in Toronto, Canada, from 20 to 23 October 2025, with registrations opening in early 2025.
The post IAGR confirms new Board members appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for iGaming and online sports betting, announces their partnership with Alpha Innovations, a provider of data center services. Under the agreement Internet Vikings will supply Alpha Innovations with VMware licensing through its VMware White Label solution.
Alpha Innovations, known for being a leading Managed Services Provider including cloud computing, data storage, and backup, has chosen to partner with Internet Vikings, a member of the Broadcom Premier Partnership program. This membership highlights Internet Vikings’ capabilities in supporting large-scale and highly regulated environments.
Internet Vikings will provide Alpha Innovations with the essential VMware license, an asset for their cloud offerings. This addition enhances Alpha Innovations’ capability to set up and maintain regulated and compliant cloud environments while upholding their high standards.
“The added value of our licensing solutions and support services aligns perfectly with Alpha Innovations’ needs,” said Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder at Internet Vikings.
Douglas Tate, CEO at Alpha Innovations added, “As a leading Managed Service Provider (MSP), Alpha Innovations is always looking for ways to improve our service offerings. Our partnership with Internet Vikings is a win-win for our clients. By leveraging Internet Vikings’ VMware licensing solutions, we can offer our clients more flexible, scalable, and secure cloud solutions. This will ultimately help our clients achieve their business goals more efficiently and effectively.”
Both companies are committed to maintaining a transparent and mutually beneficial relationship, demonstrating how data centers and hosting providers can collaborate to meet the licensing needs of the industry.
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has awarded its first-ever ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Code Approval Seals to licensees in the online gaming sector, marking a milestone in the Authority’s commitment to promoting responsible and sustainable industry practices.
This initiative follows the launch of the voluntary ESG Code of Good Practice last year, which invited licensees to submit their ESG disclosure returns. The Code, which covers 19 topics categorised under Environmental, Social and Governance pillars, offers a strategic roadmap for online gaming companies to streamline their reporting efforts.
Following the first annual reporting cycle, 14 gaming operators have been awarded the ESG Code Approval Seal. The Code supports two levels of reporting: Tier 1, which establishes foundational ESG standards, and Tier 2, which represents a more aspirational approach.
Seals are valid for one year, with flexibility for renewal in the subsequent reporting period, allowing operators to advance or adapt their reporting tier year by year.
“We believe this initiative will significantly enhance the industry’s reputation and sustainability credentials,” MGA CEO Charles Mizzi said.
“By integrating ESG considerations into their operations, gaming companies not only contribute to the wellbeing of society and the environment but also strengthen the trust and confidence that consumers, investors, and regulators have in the industry. This initiative sends a clear message: sustainability, in the broadest sense of the word, is integral to the future of the gaming sector.”
The post MGA Issues First ESG Code Approval Seals to Licensees appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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