GiH Newsletter: Netherlands Gambling Authority: “Online market is maturing” ...and more!

Especially selected for you: the latest in Dutch and international gaming news.

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Register now! GiH webinar, January 17

Join us on Wednesday, January 17 for the next Gaming in Holland webinar!

This webinar will offer a brief regulatory update and reflection on the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections. By the time this webinar takes place, we also expect to be able to share more information on the government's plans to introduce additional rules on player deposit limits.

In addition to the regulatory update, we will also highlight some relevant products and services for the Dutch market related to compliance, customer onboarding, and marketing.

Confirmed speakers include:

·        Jochen Biewer , MD at Chevron Group

·        Martijn de Boer , Founder of CDDN (Communicatie Data Diensten Nederland)

·        Mauro De Fabritiis , Founder of MDF Partners

More information will follow soon. In the meantime, register now!

Circus Gran Casino Tiel wins “Best Casino” award

Circus Gran Casino Tiel has won OneTime.nl BV 's coveted “Best Casino of the Netherlands” award.

The jury particularly praised the luxury and grandeur of Gran Casino Tiel, as well as the high level of service that is being consistently provided throughout the day (and night).

Rotterdam Rounders Poker Festival sets new player record

Holland Casino 's “Rotterdam Rounders Poker Festival” has set a record for the number of participating players in a Dutch poker tournament.

With 1476 participating players, Rotterdam Rounders Poker Festival far surpassed the previous record of 1087 players who participated in a similar tournament earlier this year in Holland Casino Rotterdam.

The Rotterdam Rounders Poker Festival's main event was won by Yuel Bereket who took home €52,078.

Netherlands Gambling Authority publishes updated enforcement policy on illegal land-based gambling

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has published an updated enforcement policy on illegal land-based gambling.

The policy states that the Dutch regulator wants to take a more proactive role in combating illegal land-based gambling instead of mainly supporting local and municipal authorities.

“The KSA wants to become more visible in the physical domain and make a greater contribution to combating the supply of physically illegal games of chance,” the regulator said in a statement.

The new policy entered into force from December 1.

Entain CEO steps down

Entain chief executive Jette Nygaard-Andersen has stepped down with immediate effect after coming under fire from investors for a languishing share price and a series of costly acquisitions, the Financial Times reports.

Under Nygaard-Andersen’s leadership, Entain spent more than £2bn on 11 bolt-on acquisitions, several of which have since been shut down.

Nygaard-Andersen will be replaced on an interim basis by non-executive director Stella David.

Entain legally bound to exit unregulated markets

Following Entain's deferred prosecution agreement with the crown prosecution service over bribery allegations involving its historic Turkey-facing business, the company is now subject to a legally binding commitment to exit unregulated markets within twelve months.

Chief Crown Prosecutor Andrew Penhale warned that the consequences of the agreement might extend to the entire UK-based gaming sector.

“The wider gaming industry may wish to reflect on the implications of this agreement for their own corporate compliance procedures and, where appropriate, take action to address and report any failings they identify,” he said.

Upcoming events

The following event(s) may be of interest to the GiH community.

·        Registrations for ICE and ICE VOX 2024 are now open! Join 45,000 industry peers and attend the industry’s largest B2B event between February 6-8 in London.

·        IGB Affiliate 2024 takes place February 6-9 alongside ICE London and aims to connect affiliates with iGaming operator affiliate programs and tech vendors.

·        Kindred Group plc 's annual Sustainable Gambling Conference will be held March 20, 2024, at the Kia Oval in London.

·        The 2024 Casino Operations Summit, which focuses on land-based casino operations, will take place April 23-25 in Amsterdam.

Netherlands Gambling Authority: “Online market is maturing”

René Jansen , Chair of the Netherlands Gambling Authority Kansspelautoriteit , recently commented on the marked decrease in the number of new remote gaming license applications.  Instead of receiving new license applications, the regulator now mainly receives requests to amend or expand existing licenses.

This development includes requests for information in relation to potential acquisitions, which indicates that market consolidation could be imminent. Jansen:

“[W]e gather from the questions that are being asked that small licensees are joining forces and moving forward together to strengthen their position in the market, and that larger licensees are interested in acquiring smaller licensees to stay ahead of the competition. It is also striking that licensees are being taken over by investment companies and that large foreign operators         without a Dutch license are acquiring smaller licensed operators.”

Jansen further commented:

“This development […] shows that the market is reaching a certain level of maturity. It is no   longer so much about capturing a position, but rather about strengthening one's                                              competitiveness and increasing market share.”

Other news

In a new episode of its online show BOOS, broadcaster BNN/VARA put a harsh (and unfair) spotlight on the Dutch Remote Gaming Act and its advocates.

The Dutch advertising standards commission (Stichting Reclame Code) has upheld a complaint against Postcode Loterij over sending misleading direct-mail advertising.

Illegal operators are deliberately targeting self-excluded players in various European countries, including the Netherlands.

Spillemyndigheden, the Danish Gambling Authority, has launched a new public awareness campaign regarding the dangers of gambling aimed at minors.

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