Casinos are significant revenues for the budget if they are strictly regulated. This has already been proven in the world: every year, governments of different countries receive hundreds of billions of dollars from casinos in the form of taxes, which for small states make up more than half of all revenues. In addition, the issuance of an official permit for gambling activities solves the problem of underground casinos, which, in addition to tax evasion, still pose a big threat to the citizens of the country playing there. Given this, in order to protect citizens from mass involvement in games and the development of addiction among people, the state has made serious efforts to prevent the mass character of this phenomenon.
The gambling industry in the United States in 2021 showed a record turnover in the history, Vedomosti newspaper said citing a report from the largest industry association in the country, the American Gaming Association (AGA).
The newspaper writes that last year the turnover of the gambling business amounted to USD 53 billion, which is 21.4% more than in pre-pandemic 2019 (USD 43.65) and 76.6% more than in 2020 (USD 30 billion). These figures do not include casinos located on the territory of Indian reservations, which report their revenue separately. According to AGA head Bill Miller, the tribal leaders also reported that last year was their best year ever.
Most of the turnover came from traditional gambling businesses such as casinos and slot machines. Their revenue grew by 6.6% compared to 2019 and reached USD 45 billion. The growth driver was the development of sports betting segments (USD 4.29 billion in revenue) and online gaming (USD 3.7 billion).
Another factor, according to the source, was the spread of legal gambling: over the past year, they have been officially allowed in 10 more states of the country. Now the gambling business is legalized in 33 states and the District of Columbia, 23 of them set records for annual turnover last year, the AGA noted.
The 3snet.co website wrote that in 2021 the total income of the European gambling market will be EUR 87.2 billion of gross income. This is 13% less than before the pandemic in 2019, but still 7.5% more than in 2020.
The Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of Asian Las Vegas - Macau in February 2022 was 7.76 billion Patacas (USD 964 million). Income grew by 6.1% compared to February 2021 and turned out to be MOP 1.42 billion more than in January 2022. Gross gaming revenue from the mass market at the end of the month was 48% of the pre-pandemic level, and from VIP players - 5%. In the first two months of 2022, gross gambling revenue reached 14.10 billion Patacas, which is 8.0% less than in the first two months of 2021.
There are gambling zones in Russia - a special administrative-territorial object designed to carry out activities for the organization and conduct of gambling. Such zones have been operating in Russia since July 1, 2009. In addition, gambling zones are located outside populating areas.
In 2020, 1.57 billion rubles of tax were collected in Russia, for 11 months of 2021 - 1.64 billion.
In Kazakhstan, only land-based casinos and betting shops are legalized. The operation of virtual casinos, according to Novy Vestnik, is prohibited in the country, including their advertising. The gambling market in Kazakhstan at the end of 2021 was slightly redistributed. So, for 9 months, bookmakers and land-based casinos earned over 53 billion tenge, which is almost 2.5 times more than in 2020.
The legal gambling market has been operating in Ukraine for more than a year and a half. However, significant changes in this industry have occurred in 2021, when the first license was issued to a legal operator to conduct activities.
Throughout the past year, the gambling market not only brought billions of dollars to the state and actively fought against illegal operators, but also began to educate business and Ukrainians themselves in social responsibility, thepage.ua wrote.
It is noteworthy that a market has appeared in Ukraine, which is regulated and which will not allow children and people under 21 to play. Also there is list of gamblers. “A person can limit access to gambling, or it can be done by members of their family. All these are mechanisms of social protection,” Anton Kuchukhidze, head of the Ukrainian Gambling Council said.
UGC and the Gambling and Lottery Regulatory Commission claim that, in addition to the above revenues from the sale of licenses, the gambling business has generated over UAH 30 billion of both direct and related payments, in particular through contracts with companies that service gambling.
These are just some of the examples of how the states of the world receive income from the activities of casinos and gambling, and also take care of citizens in order to protect them.
Kyrgyzstan does not stand aside and is also taking measures to develop gaming activities in the country. It is noteworthy that the authorities immediately indicated that the admission of citizens of the country to casino games would be prohibited. So, on June 22, 2022, the deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh approved in the second and third readings the bills on opening gambling facilities in the country.
Om June 30, President of the country Sadyr Zhaparov signed the laws legalizing casinos.
The purpose of the laws is to attract additional resources to the state budget by creating favorable conditions for attracting investments.
Akylbek Zhaparov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, during a meeting in the parliament noted that in case of violation, the gambling facility will be punished - the license is canceled, up to the confiscation of equipment.
Gambling activity in the Kyrgyz Republic will be a licensed type of entrepreneurial activity. Licenses will be issued on a fee basis. The draft proposes that the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic will determine the amount of the license fee.
As of today, it has already been announced that the license will cost from one and a half to two million US dollars.
Akylbek Zhaparov said that the gambling facilities in the country will be open where it is more profitable. “At the first stage, they will be open in Issyk-Kul and in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstanis will not be able to play there, citizens are able to work in and no more,” he said, adding that this year the country will earn from gambling activities from 1 to 2 billion soms.
“Casinos, together with tourism, will be able to attract many foreigners to the country. There is a struggle in the world for goods and the flow of money, so we need a tool,” he added at a parliament meeting.
In an interview with Kabar News Agency, President Sadyr Zhaparov shared his opinion on the activities of casinos in Kyrgyzstan.
Zhaparov said that after the ban was introduced in Kyrgyzstan in 2012, it went underground.
Indeed, reports from the Ministry of Internal Affairs show that since the closure of casinos in the country, underground gambling houses have been revealed quite often, where ordinary citizens come to play. However, law enforcement agencies cannot fully take control of this type of activity.
In his interview, the head of Kyrgyzstan confirmed the above, noting that despite the fact that law enforcement agencies are taking the most stringent measures to counter underground casinos, they still continue their work. “Despite the fact that they are arrested, their equipment is confiscated, they function. In this regard, the state must take the situation under control. It is necessary to withdraw shadow financial resources from their activities in favor of the country's budget. In addition, the state must protect its citizens from the operation of underground casinos. If today, the state will legalize casinos, then underground establishments stop their work. Of course, those citizens who played there will have nowhere to go. And in legally open casinos entrance to our citizens will be prohibited. We guarantee this,” Sadyr Zhaparov said.
The head of state also made it clear that the cost of an activity license would be very expensive and, in this regard, nobody would risk the license by violating the laws.
“If they allows citizens of Kyrgyzstan to play, it risks losing its license, which will cost millions of dollars. For the sake of 5-10 thousand dollars, they will not neglect his license. In addition, ordinary people do not go to. They are not even interested in it. Foreign guests who have millions and billions of money will come to. No need to spare their money. The budget will receive billions of soms in the form of taxes. Let's better use this money to repair rural roads, pay off external debt and thereby improve the life of the people. Also, at the expense of the funds that will come from the casino, we will raise wages to a high level for the remaining ministries. We must raise the level of wages for civil servants so that they can easily provide for their families. This is how we can defeat corruption,” Zhaparov stressed.
The president also added that this year it is necessary to pay 23 billion soms, and in the future 25 billion soms to serve the external debt.
Thus, the casino for Kyrgyzstan is an area that will help not only replenish the state budget, but also increase the number of tourists, increase the number of jobs and, accordingly, the incoming funds will go to the implementation of social programs. Nevertheless, the state will have to strictly monitor the activities of casinos so that the initially declared ban on the admission of citizens to gambling establishments is fully implemented.
Kabar News Agency
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