Legislation governing the gambling industry is to be tightened, with amendments to be introduced to the Law on Licences and Permits.

Under the draft bill, if a permit holder for gambling or prize-game services repeatedly fails to meet payment deadlines, the penalty will no longer be limited to a tripling of the fine; the permit itself will be revoked.

The government has explained its reasoning: holding repeat offenders liable merely by trebling financial penalties does not constitute a sufficiently strong preventive or deterrent mechanism, and falls short of ensuring that licence holders conscientiously fulfil their statutory obligations.

“Effectively resolving the problem requires corresponding amendments to the law that will clarify and strengthen the measures of liability. The proposed change will ensure uniformity in legal regulation, reinforce the preventive effect of sanctions, and establish a more effective mechanism for securing compliance with licence conditions,” the draft bill states.