Betting shops Petica Plus and BET-Live announce closure of branches in Zenica

After the City Council members in Zenica voted to increase utility taxes for gambling operators doing business in Zenica, betting shops Petica Plus and BET-Live have announced that they will reconsider whether to continue operating in Zenica, or to close their branches and lay off employees.

According to the new decision, taxes for betting shops in the Zenica area will amount to between 30,000 and 50,000 convertible marks, for each payment point, depending on the location of the betting shop.

This proposal was submitted by the Mayor of Zenica, Fuad Kasumović, and the City Council supported it with a majority of votes.

Kasumović believes the decision is correct and will bring more money into the city treasury. Gambling operators, however, are protesting the decision.

- Such high levies in Zenica make business impossible, and betting shops will most likely be forced to suspend further operations in the Zenica area – it was announced from betting shops Petica Plus and BET-Live.

- We will try to do everything in our power to prevent this, but in case of failure, we will have to proceed with closing the payment points. Due to all of this, we express our regret to all owners of business premises in the Zenica area, in whose premises we conduct business, because we will most likely be forced to terminate lease agreements. The closure of payment points will lead to job losses – announced the betting shops.

Lutrija BiH also previously announced the closure of its branches in Zenica.