The legislative and regulatory changes planned across Europe will transform the gaming market, it has been claimed.
Both the land-based and online gaming sectors are expected to see major changes this year, as government’s seek to take advantage of tax revenues generated by gambling activities.
Andrew Rosewarne, managing director of testing lab NMi UK, told InterGaming that there will be major changes made to the gambling landscape in several jurisdictions.
“Obviously the big opportunity in the latter part of 2012 is expected to be in Germany, via Schleswig-Holstein,” he said, explaining that the publication of the technical requirements for online gaming services is expected within a matter of weeks.
“Greece is also likely to be an opportunity for our customers this year, both in the online and land-based VLT sectors,” he continued. “There is also progress in the Netherlands, which is our ‘home turf’ for us and even the UK might make some changes.”
Elsewhere in Europe, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Bulgaria and Hungary are among those understood to be considering changes to their respective gaming regulations, although NMi believes that most countries' regulations are likely to be under review.
“One thing is certain,” said Rosewarne, “the European gaming market will look very different a year from now.”
