Superbet maps out digital expansion plans in Poland
Superbet is to build on a successful land-based launch in Poland by rolling out online and mobile betting services next year.
The firm has opened more than 50 locations across the country since launching last year and had planned to add online and mobile to its offering by the third quarter of this year.
Work is still ongoing on its digital platforms, but the company is confident of a 2019 launch date for both its online and mobile services.
“We operate in accordance with an agreed and precise schedule, but time verifies plans and despite the full involvement of our developers in the IT projects, the dates declared had to change,” Superbet Polska CEO Aleš Dobeš said, according to e-playonline.com.
Dobeš added that much of this development work is due to the company’s desire to meet regulatory standards and requirements in Poland.
“We want our services to be refined in every aspect and tailored to the very demanding Polish betting market,” Dobeš said. Intensive work on the online platform, which still requires testing, is underway.
“We want it to operate without any problems when it enters the market. It is only when we are sure that all issues related to entering the online market work perfectly, then we will submit relevant documents to the Ministry of Finance.
“We predict that it will be the fourth quarter of this year.”
News of Superbet’s impending launch in Poland comes after national authorities added 284 new domains to its growing blacklist of unlicensed online operators.
Since August 21, major brand such as Betsson, Mansion and Winamax have been added to the list, which is updated regularly on the Polish Ministry of Finance’s website.
Poland began blacklisting unlicensed gambling companies in July 2017 as part of a new legal structure in the country. The legislation also introduced a licensing structure and a 12% turnover tax on companies operating in Poland.
At the time, the Remote Gambling Association said the “fiscal framework is not workable. Until it is changed, few operators will take up licences in Poland”.
Bet-at-Home was one of the first companies to be blacklisted and in July said this was a major factor in a drop in betting and gaming revenue during the first half. The €66.6m (£59.3m/$77.5m) collected in the period was down 13% year-on-year.
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