Under the new bill, Serbia would hike taxes on online sports betting and casino-style gaming from 5% of gross revenue on all verticals to 15% for sports betting and 10% for other digital gambling products.
The Serbian Ministry of Finance has explained that wagering products would be subjected to higher tax rate because 75% of sports betting turnover comes from online wagers, while only 25% of gaming turnover comes from online games.
Minister Mali’s bill also includes proposed changes in the provision of gambling services at brick-and-mortar facilities around the country, including betting shops and casinos.
Under Serbia’s Gambling Act of 2011, only two land-based casinos are allowed to operate on the territory of the Balkan nation. Minister Mali’s recently tabled bill allows for the addition of up to 10 new casinos.
If enforced as a law, the bill would enable the government to issue up to 10 casino licenses, each valid for a 10-year period. Interested operators will be required to pay a license fee set at a €500,000 minimum.
The gambling legislation would introduce restrictions on the location of new slot machines and betting shops. Such venues would not be permitted to be located within 200 meters from schools and within 100 meters from one another.
The proposed rule on the location of betting and gaming facilities would only apply to new sites.
Source: GMB / Casino News Daily
