Slovakia tightens the screw on unlicensed online gambling operators

Slovakia, which is possibly feeling the impact of a loss of interest in licensing by operators due to its rather high 27 percent tax rate on GGR, has threatened to tighten up enforcement and has started a black list that includes major international operators like William Hill, GVC and 888.

The list is accompanied by a threat to shutter up to ten sites Slovakia claims are operating within its borders without licensing unless they voluntarily withdraw…or apply for licensing.

The Telegraph newspaper reports that the operators’ view is that their European Union member country licenses are sufficient to cover Slovakian activity, but this argument has been rejected by the Slovakians, who do not accept that Malta, Isle of Man or Gibraltar licences allow online gambling activity in Slovakia.

The scene appears to be set for further confrontation.