Legislation of the Belarusian gambling market: online and land-based casinos

Belarus has positioned itself as a legal gambling haven, adding Eastern European operators to the mix over the past decade and adding them to the mix in 2019. However, unwise decline, a weak currency unit and a rigid regulatory regime make the bazaar difficult to access. However, Bel-Russia is a small state of at least 10 million citizens, and the gambling bazaar has never targeted players from the district.

The first adaptation of land-based gambling in Bel-Russia coincides with the ban on gambling in the neighboring Russian Federation. For example, casinos in the Russian Federation were limited by remote and hard-to-access gambling zones, so Bel-Russia offered millions of Russian players a chance to eat gambling, make shorter trips and have a young Buthet. A one-time law on the ban on gaming halls and casinos was necessary for the country to come to power in the Russian Federation, so the bill was completed in 2008.

The idea was successful and the industry expanded its initial boom, but further tax increases, an unstable economy and increasingly strict standards limited the formation of gambling in the country.

Let's think about whether you should consider the Belarusian gambling bazaar as an investment target in 2022.

Regulations

Although the branch's license is by no means difficult, terrestrial casinos and bookmakers have only been regulated in the country since 2008.

Since April 1, 2019, Belarus has regulated gambling internet. However, igaming is considered a continuation of the land-based industry rather than an independent business: applicants for an online gambling license must hold a land-based business license and two years of practical skills in the country.

This means that for online operators, a partnership with an existing company is considered an option - perhaps closer to reality than spending two years devising a completely different business and management.

Of course, it goes without saying that a company seeking a license must be registered in the Belarusian state and have its own servers on Belarusian soil.

Poker, slots, watching sports, and even direct broadcasting of classic games online.

For example, company founders seeking permission have every opportunity, both as foreigners and as residents of Belarus. The only restriction is that shareholders must not have a criminal record for financial or administrative crimes.

It is a relative amount used in Japan to calculate pensions, fines, tariffs, taxes, and other payments. The basic amount in 2022 is 32 White Russia Rouble or 10, 95 euros.

In order to establish a public corporation (a compan y-like company of a company), the minimum capital of 4380 euros (400 basic amounts) is required, and in the case of a closed company, it is 1095 euros (100 basic amounts). The limited liability company is the most unpleasant option to earn coins. The minimum funding is not determined, and only one white loose may be settled.

Formally, the process of acquiring an online gambling license is to change the existing resolution. For this reason, the company has 250 basic rubles (2. by 2022)

According to the rules, the company is obliged to own two accounts discovered by Banks in White Russian: Current Accounts are required to require all payments to players, and special bank accounts are. It is obliged to maintain the preparation amount for paying the profit when the Current Account method is completed. For online casinos, the main delivery requirements are 90. 000 basic (€ 985. 500), sportsbooks and Paris Matches, 20. 000 basic (€ 219. 000).

Regulatory authorities approve that this amount is actually in the bank account on the first day of each quarter.

To operate legally in Belarus, online gambling must be performed in a local domain.

The longest and most problematic line of the license process is considered a test. Authorities work as stipulated in the document and all the software, and proves that they meet the standards of the license agency, for example, at the time of the first startup of the plan and in their survival. You need a certificate.

The main regulatory agencies in this process are between gambling companies. This national organization conducts tests (specific conditions and tests are intended by personal agreements) and support the work of "special computer cash system".

Operators must integrate the system and work closely with the gambling company prediction center. All monetary operation and player data must be recorded in the system.

After the test is completed and the set of documents is collected, the examination process will take about 45 business days, and it will take 20 days if the regulatory authorities require additional information on the implementation of the platform.

Taxes and Advertising Policy

Belarusi gambling is charged 4 % gaming tax on net income (deducted prize from deposits), and 4 % of income taxes are also imposed on the award and returned deposits. It has no particularly necessary taxes for Belarus companies, though not particularly related to Igaming. However, the gaming company is exempted from VAT.

Unlike many other gambling markets, Belarus is allowed to advertise gambling game, but operators do not exceed the restrictions and do not advertise services for children (the law is banned to advertise toys. It is a condition that it is specified that there is) and not giving all participants the wrong impression that the prize is guaranteed.

Many taxes are imposed on the land market. The tax rate was revised on December 31, 2021 under the commentary of the Belarus Republic Act, 141-Z.

Companies have 7. 854 byn (2. 687 euros) per gaming table, 264 byn (90 euros) per gaming machine, 2. 475 byn (846 euros) per gaming counter, 1. 650BYN per bookmarker (564 euros). Pay. It increased 12 to 15 % from the previous year, continuing to increase the tax increase.

The market in recent years

Coronavirus's trends and 2020 protests had a very negative impact on the sector. The Land Base section depends on the tourism industry, and the number of people in Japan is decreasing, and the income from casinos and gambling holes is also decreasing.

Online casinos are particularly suffering from frequent stopping Internet.

Meanwhile, Belarus confirmed its positive attitude toward cryptocurrencies in 2020. The cryptographic trading was legally introduced in 2017 by Presidential Ordinance No. 8, but it took time to implement it.

Until 2023, Belarusi citizens do not need to be able to freely trade encrypted assets, declare them as income or pay taxes.

Unfortunately for the casino, gambling using cryptocurrency is still almost illegal. The anonymity and opaque of digital currency are incompatible with the current gambling regulations. There is certainly a demand for gambling using cryptocurrency, so it is highly likely that regulatory authorities will find a way to approve digital assets without impairing the safety of players.

Belarus remains one of the most intense gambling jurisdictions in the region. In 2021, the number of land-based casinos in the country dropped to 20, but this is all just like a significant number.

In some families, the many difficulties that the land-based casino section met accelerated the approval of other online casinos. At first, Belarusian players did not want to change and keep their own old habits. But slowly, but correctly, the online segment is gaining momentum, as players in the district are attached to the idea of ​​​​making deposits and bets online. The government is also taking it seriously as a pillar of tax revenue.

Thanks to the brand new decree "On improving the legal adjustment of the gambling business", the government pointed out a legitimate reason to immediately block gambling sites operating illegally in Belarus or targeting unlicensed state residents. In addition to its undoubted advantage as a player defense measure, this will undoubtedly help legal IGAMing-operators to overcome their competitiveness on the black market.

The latest legislative measure is the new Personal Data Protection Law, which came into force on November 15, 2021. The law aims to clarify the definition of personal data, provide additional commitments for companies regarding non-disclosure and material re-provision of data, as well as create a comprehensive political body on data defense.

Failure to comply with these new measures could result in fines based on 50 to 100 basic values.

The future

Russia remains a mystery for traders. On the one hand, unlike most other states in Eastern Europe, the state is considered one of the most publicized for the industry. On the other hand, every day brings a restless desire for higher taxes, harsh adjustments and a precarious financial situation.

And since Ukraine legalized gambling in 2020 and Estonia has long since become a regulated bazaar, Belarus is no longer considered one election with easy access.

If you are considering the chance to invest in the gambling industry in Belarus, you will most likely be instructed by a specialist who understands all the intricacies of the market, understands the laws and understands the area enough to arrange the inference of what will happen in the best five years.

One such variety is: Slotegrator's personal legal experts will definitely help you consider all the pros and "con's" during the gift consultation, which you can order by clicking the button below.

Peter Šterik

In 2016, Peter graduated from the Karlov Institute in Prague. The main area of ​​law that he focused on while studying at the institute, as for example, and while completing it, is the law of software (and mental belonging in general). After that, he worked for a long time at the Central Law Office in Prague, but in 2018 he came to Slotegrator, where he has been working since then and loves daily legal issues.