Parliament of FBiH adopts law that could destroy domestic betting shops

The House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH adopted amendments to the Law on Games of Chance, proposed by the Government of FBiH. This means that the operations of more than 2,550 domestic betting shops in FBiH and around 5,000 workers employed in these betting shops will be jeopardized, Patria reports.

The adoption of this law was supported by deputies from the SDA and SBB clubs. Deputies from the club of parties gathered around HDZ opposed it. They believe that revenues of domestic betting shops will fall by 20 percent, and that all private organizers of games of chance will shut down, leaving only Lutrija BiH operational.

The general secretary of the SDA, Amir Zukić, lobbied for this law. Domestic bookmakers accuse him of working for the Austrian company „Novomatic AG“, whose machines are located in Lutrija BiH. The new law on games of chance foresees additional taxation of domestic betting shops, but not of Novomatic machines. Following this law, profits from Novomatic machines could increase enormously, while profits of domestic betting shops will decline.

- In just over a year, we have paid more than 70 million KM into the FBiH budget in taxes and contributions. But with the new legal solution, we will no longer be able to do that, because our profits will fall - warn domestic bookmakers, Patria reports.

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