Israel is endeavoring to clamp down on the gaming industry by outlawing gambling machines and horse racing in the country.
Following the release of a report by the Commission on Gambling Regulations, a joint think-tank led by Justice Ministry Director General Emi Palmor and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon the heads of the two ministries announced the measures at a joint press conference.
According to the ministers, they will be implementing all of the report’s recommendations which include a limit on the size of the legal gambling sector, a tax raise on money earned through gambling, a prohibition on operating games with an addictive nature as well as a number of other limitations.
The only authorities currently licensed to provide gambling services are Mifal HaPayis, the operators of the Israeli national lottery and gambling machines, and the Sports Betting Council, which manages betting on several sports events which include horse racing.
Despite the fact that the Israeli government published a study earlier this year on the potential benefits of allowing casinos in the country, news of the forthcoming clampdown is set to end any hopes of casinos being allowed in Israel.
According to Kahlon, Israel’s weakest and poorest are being sold illusions and false hopes each day and that from next year, there will not be a single gambling machine or any horse racing in Israel. He went on to say that it is no coincidence that these gambling machines are found mostly in poor neighborhoods and it is also not a coincidence that we see a sharp rise in lottery revenue the day after welfare checks are sent out every month.
Kahlon also said that unregulated gambling exclusively and deliberately targets and hurts the weakest communities in the country so as long as he is finance minister, there will be no casinos in Israel.