Is the FBiH Government working in favor of one of Europe's leading gambling companies?

The FBiH Government has approved one of the leading gambling corporations, Novomatic from Austria, to operate three new types of slot machines in the Federation of BiH.

The Government made this decision at its 110th session on July 7.

The Government's Decision on the type and performance of slot machines in the slot machine system states that "in point I, after the words 'FS-670 Panther Roullete', new text is added as follows: 'FV-310, FV-311, FA - 834 VIP Lounge'."

Novomatic's gambling machines can only be found in Lutrija BiH branches. More than 1,500 Novomatic machines are installed throughout the Federation of BiH through the branch network of this state-owned company. There is also talk of a harmful contract between the Austrian giant and the BiH company, which was secured for the Austrian partner by people from SDA back in 2006. Now, Novomatic's offer in the Federation of BiH will be enriched with three additional types of slot machines, which will give the corporation new momentum.

Private gambling operators are protesting this Government decision. They claim that the Federation Government has, through a fast-track procedure, allowed Novomatic to expand its gambling offer in FBiH, while they are facing very difficult obstacles through illogical and unconstitutional legal solutions. They warn that the Government's latest move has revealed why Novomatic machines are in a more favorable position than private gambling operators in the proposed Law on Gambling in the Federation. Is the law being adapted to Novomatic machines, not domestic operators?!

"The Federal Ministry of Finance has drafted, and the FBiH Government has proposed to Parliament, the Law on Gambling, according to which games in domestic private betting shops would be taxed much more than games on slot machines. Through the introduction of three new types of machines to the Federation market, we have received proof that individuals from the FBiH Government and the Federal Ministry of Finance are working in favor of Novomatic," state the operators.

Novomatic operates in FBiH through its subsidiary HTL d.o.o. Sarajevo. In the article "Poor performance or malversations: Three slot machine clubs from BiH have not paid a single mark of profit tax", Patria revealed that three companies owned by HTL: AMONIQ d.o.o. Zenica, CRVENO-CRNO d.o.o. Mostar, and AK KOMET d.o.o. Kalesija, which are also involved in gambling through slot machines, have been reporting losses for three years, due to which they do not pay profit tax to the federal budget.