Staatsloterij “Shot Itself in the Foot” by “Secretly” Settling Individual Claim, Professors in Liability Law Say
Last year, Dutch operator Staatsloterij secretly settled a claim from an individual customer who felt “misled” by the operator’s advertising for €4250. Could this news revitalize the ongoing class action lawsuit on account of misleading advertising practices against the Dutch state-owned lottery operator?
Roughly 200 thousand other claimants could use the settlement for guidance in their negotiations with the lottery over compensation. Thus, the total damage could amount to hundreds of millions of euros, according to several professors in liability law, who say the Staatsloterij potentially “shot itself in the foot” by settling the individual claim.
The Staatsloterij, in its turn, maintains that the settled claim concerns a “highly exceptional” case that “in no way” would give reason for broader legal negotiations with the lottery operator.
Live Gaming Giant Evolution Gaming Records 50% turnover Growth in Q2
During its tenth year of operation, live gaming provider Evolution has posted a spectacular 50% turnover increase in Q2 2016, reflecting the fast-growing popularity of this market segment among punters.
For more information on the live gaming sector, visit the Live Gaming Summit, which will be held on 27 September, 2016, in Barcelona, the iGaming capital of Europe.
Book your ticket now, as available places are filling up quickly!
Spanish iGaming Soars in Q2
Numbers released by the Spanish regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) show impressive revenue growth in the online betting and casino sector.
Overall GGR is up 56 percent year-on-year at €98.8m. Online casino grew no less than 91 percent y-o-y thanks to the addition of slots and live dealer roulette, with the latter comprising an impressive 48 percent of online roulette revenues in the period.
Online sports betting revenue grew 70 percent, but with a relatively low margin of 4.5-5 percent.
Online poker revenue, however, declined 10 percent.
“Now or Never” for Operators Looking to Enter the Italian Market
“By the end of the year, the Italian gaming regulator is expected to award 15,000 betting shop and corner shop licenses and 120 online gaming licenses,” gaming lawyer Gulio Coraggio writes.
“Given that tenders for Italian gaming licenses usually take place every three or four years, the situation is of ‘now or never’ for operators that don’t want to miss the opportunity of the Italian market.”
To make the Italian market more attractive, the sports betting market has been liberalized, while new advertising rules have come out better than expected. Bingo operators can look forward to a more attractive tax regime and more flexible regulations.
Does Gambling Advertising Increase Problem Gambling?
According to Dr. Mark Griffiths, Professor of Gambling Studies at the Nottingham Trent University, the effects appear not very large:
“Overall, the small body of research on the relationship between gambling advertising and problem gambling has few definitive conclusions. If gambling advertising does have an effect, it appears to impact specific groups (such as problem gamblers and adolescents) but most of this research uses self-reported data that has been shown to be unreliable among gamblers.”
World Regulatory Briefing Enters into Partnership with International Association of Gaming Advisors
Clarion Events entered into an extended partnership with the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) ahead of the World Regulatory Briefing Responsible Gambling Innovation Conference being held in London on 8 September, 2016.
In its second year, the event will gather a European audience to discuss the validity of current RG methods, smart ways of segmenting and analyzing data, integrating CSR, CRM and RG as well as discussing the future regulatory requirements across Europe.
Binary Options: Trading or Gambling?
Professional trader Simon Klein addresses the question whether binary option trading should be considered a form of gambling:
“To address the issue as to whether binary options are gambling or trading, you have to systematically look at each category of binary options and decide whether you can develop a system that has a positive expectancy or not. If there does not exist a system of trading that has a positive expectancy, then you are gambling and what you are trading is not a financial instrument. If on the other hand, you can develop a system of trading that has a positive expectancy, then you are trading and what you are trading is a viable financial instrument.”
Holland Casino Posts 6% Turnover Growth in H1 2016
State-owned Holland Casino posted a turnover of €302m during H1 of 2016, a six percent increase compared to the first six months of the previous year.
According to Holland Casino, the number of visitors in the past six months increased by three percent, who also spent, on average, three percent more per visit.
Operating income totaled €48m, €7m more than in the same period last year.
However, Holland Casino will also be liable for corporate income tax for the first time this year.
Other News
Today, several Dutch lotteries are having a mobile only day.
Newly-merged Staatsloterij and De Lotto are developing innovative, over-the-counter gaming products.
Should European bookmakers embrace daily fantasy sports?
Britain’s newest gambling addiction charity Young Gamblers Education Trust, which also operates under the trading name YGAM, has come under fire for being funded by the gaming industry.
Paddy Power Betfair expects to deliver cost savings a year earlier than expected as a result of its merger after reporting a 31 percent jump in first-half earnings as a combined entity.
Rank Group and 888 have officially ended their efforts to acquire William Hill.
When legal online poker comes to California, PokerStars may be unable to profit.