Poll: Regulation and taxation to shape egaming industry in 2015
New markets and tax structures will have the biggest impact on the egaming industry next year, according to 50% of respondents
Regulation and taxation demands across the globe will have the biggest impact on the egaming industry in 2015, according to half of respondents to this week’s eGaming Review poll.
The European market is set for significant change in 2015, not least with the impact of the Point of Consumption tax in the UK felt for the first time.
And if all goes to plan the Netherlands should open its doors to online gaming in 2015, while Spain is set to see a number of new entrants to the market and Norway and Sweden may move to liberalise their gaming monopolies.
But more than a third of respondents (32%) said a major increase in M&A activity is more likely to shape the industry moving into the New Year.
The past 12 months saw some of the most impressive takeovers the sector has ever seen, with Amaya Gaming acquiring PokerStars and Full Tilt for $4.bn and the mega-mergers of GTECH and IGT, and Scientific Games and Bally Technologies.
And the trend looks set to continue with Toronto-based Intertain, which recently snapped up online casino operator Vera&John for 89.1m, in talks to acquire a “key asset” of UK-based Gamesys Group.
Bwin.party has also confirmed it is in exploratory talks about the sale of its business.
Just 10% of respondents felt technology and product innovation would make the biggest difference and only 8% felt marketing would have the biggest impact.