Monthly Archives: May 2016

New Faception Facial Recognition Software Claims to Find Terrorists, Pedophiles, and Poker Players in a Crowd

Facial recognition technology is nothing new: casinos and law enforcement have long used it to weed out criminals and black-listed players by matching data-banked images with in-the-flesh humans. But now an Israeli start-up called Faception has developed technology that it claims is better at understanding our personalities than we are ourselves. Faception recently reportedly signed a […]

The post New Faception Facial Recognition Software Claims to Find Terrorists, Pedophiles, and Poker Players in a Crowd appeared first on .

New Faception Facial Recognition Software Claims to Find Terrorists, Pedophiles, and Poker Players in a Crowd

Facial recognition technology is nothing new: casinos and law enforcement have long used it to weed out criminals and black-listed players by matching data-banked images with in-the-flesh humans. But now an Israeli start-up called Faception has developed technology that it claims is better at understanding our personalities than we are ourselves. Faception recently reportedly signed a […]

The post New Faception Facial Recognition Software Claims to Find Terrorists, Pedophiles, and Poker Players in a Crowd appeared first on .

Greece ups online gambling tax to 35%; OPAP names Damian Cope as new CEO

Greece is forging ahead with plans to impose a 35% flat tax on all online gambling revenue, a move that could help the country’s floundering finances while discouraging new operators from entering the market.

On Sunday, the Greek parliament approved its latest omnibus financial bill, approval of which was necessary in order for the cash-strapped country to release the latest tranche of bailout funds from international lenders.

The gambling portion of the omnibus bill scrapped the existing 30% to 35% variable online gambling tax in favor of a flat 35% rate across all gambling products. The governing Syriza party expects the change, which will be applied retroactively to Jan. 21, 2016, will provide the state’s depleted tax coffers with an annual €54m in tax revenue.

The new regime applies to all 24 online operators to whom Greece issued ‘temporary’ licenses in 2011. The Greek government also intends to proceed with plans to issue permanent online gambling licenses to replace those 24 temporary permits, which will reportedly include upfront fees of €3m for the initial five-year term of each license.

Greece ups online gambling tax to 35%; OPAP names Damian Cope as new CEO

Greece is forging ahead with plans to impose a 35% flat tax on all online gambling revenue, a move that could help the country’s floundering finances while discouraging new operators from entering the market.

On Sunday, the Greek parliament approved its latest omnibus financial bill, approval of which was necessary in order for the cash-strapped country to release the latest tranche of bailout funds from international lenders.

The gambling portion of the omnibus bill scrapped the existing 30% to 35% variable online gambling tax in favor of a flat 35% rate across all gambling products. The governing Syriza party expects the change, which will be applied retroactively to Jan. 21, 2016, will provide the state’s depleted tax coffers with an annual €54m in tax revenue.

The new regime applies to all 24 online operators to whom Greece issued ‘temporary’ licenses in 2011. The Greek government also intends to proceed with plans to issue permanent online gambling licenses to replace those 24 temporary permits, which will reportedly include upfront fees of €3m for the initial five-year term of each license.

Poland to authorize online slots, poker but mum’s the word on gambling tax rates

Poland plans to include legal online slots in its revamped gambling laws but there’s still no confirmation on giving locally licensed gambling operators a badly needed tax break.

On Monday, Poland’s Ministry of Finance dropped its latest hints about overdue revisions to the country’s gambling laws, which include allowing Polish-licensed online operators to offer online slots, provided they toe the line regarding responsible gambling protections for consumers.

The Ministry of Finance also plans to authorize land-based slots, but these “have to be covered by the state monopoly performed by a designated entity.” The Ministry notes that slots are “extremely addictive” and thus their use will be confined to “dedicated areas under control.”

The plan to authorize online slots play contradicts last week’s public comments by Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin, who claimed verticals like sports betting and poker were less socially harmful than “hard gambling” products, which he defined as including slots and other “casino games.”

Poland to authorize online slots, poker but mum’s the word on gambling tax rates

Poland plans to include legal online slots in its revamped gambling laws but there’s still no confirmation on giving locally licensed gambling operators a badly needed tax break.

On Monday, Poland’s Ministry of Finance dropped its latest hints about overdue revisions to the country’s gambling laws, which include allowing Polish-licensed online operators to offer online slots, provided they toe the line regarding responsible gambling protections for consumers.

The Ministry of Finance also plans to authorize land-based slots, but these “have to be covered by the state monopoly performed by a designated entity.” The Ministry notes that slots are “extremely addictive” and thus their use will be confined to “dedicated areas under control.”

The plan to authorize online slots play contradicts last week’s public comments by Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin, who claimed verticals like sports betting and poker were less socially harmful than “hard gambling” products, which he defined as including slots and other “casino games.”