Belarus evaluates iGaming law
The government of Belarus sets another attempt at legalising the online gaming sector.
Belarus.- Minister of Taxes and Levies in Belarus, Sergei Nalivaiko has recently introduced a gaming bill to the Congress in order to update current legislation on casino activity to further expand offerings across the country. The new bill is specifically aimed at legalising online gaming platforms to “modernise” Belarus’ gaming market.
It is not the first attempt by the government to legalise the iGaming sector, although so far it has not achieved the expected results. However, officials are optimistic that Sergei Nalivaiko’s proposal will reach national debate and a further approval. The bill would boost current gaming regulations in Belarus, which is often known as “the Las Vegas of the former Soviet Union,” according to expert press.
The Minister of Taxes and Levies in Belarus has been setting meetings with casino operators since 2017 to discuss the possibility of expanding their current casino licences to the iGaming sector. The bill looks to set a beneficial tax regulatory for the national government. Furthermore, supporters of the bill revealed that authorities are aware that despite the prohibition of online gaming websites, the public has access to international online gaming casinos and sports betting platforms, jeopardising the legal gaming market of the country.
Under the new legislation, both current casino operators and new companies would be able to participate in a regulated licensing process to obtain permission to offer iGaming services for local bettors. The bill proposals were based on current successful legalised gaming markets that have proven to benefit governments from legal online gaming platforms and further taxes on the casino sector.
