Netherlands Gambling Authority issues technical requirements on CRUKS national exclusion register
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has published the technical requirements for connecting to the Dutch national exclusion register CRUKS.
From July 13, a test version of CRUKS will be available for land-based operators, so that they may work on integrating the exclusion register before it becomes mandatory for all licensees.
In related news, the Dutch regulator also started a tender process to select the future operator of the national problem gambling helpline. The helpline must be available 24/7 to provide information on and assistance with problem gambling prevention. The tender will run until September 1.
Registration for 2020 Gaming in Holland Conference now open
Registration for the 2020 Gaming in Holland Conference is now open.
The conference will on September 22, one day prior to iGB Live in the Amsterdam RAI. Combine two events with one visit!
Netherlands Gambling Authority chairman René Jansen has agreed to deliver the conference’s keynote speech and will provide the latest updates on the regulator’s preparations for implementing the Remote Gaming Act.
Other speakers will be announced shortly.
Register today: https://bit.ly/2VcotFI
Current sports betting monopolist TOTO preparing exclusive sponsorship deals with Dutch top-flight football clubs
Current sports betting monopolist TOTO is reportedly working on a series of exclusive sponsorship deals with several clubs in the Dutch top football league “Eredivisie.”
Unnamed insiders claim that TOTO is trying to head off other sports betting operators before the regulated Dutch online gambling market opens in 2021 by offering high signing fees to clubs who are currently pressed for money due to the Covid-19 crisis.
TOTO refused to comment on the story.
Dutch online gambling association endorses EGBA’s new data protection code
he Dutch online gambling association Speel Verantwoord has today officially endorsed EGBA’s new pan-European code of conduct on data protection for the online gambling sector.
The Code of Conduct on Data Protection in Online Gambling sets long-term data protection standards for Europe’s online gambling sector and is intended to complement and reinforce the sector’s compliance with the GDPR. The code is part of EGBA’s wider efforts to drive standards in the online gambling sector and is in accordance with the GDPR, which encourages the use of sector-specific codes to support the proper application of its provisions.
Speel Verantwoord is the first national gambling association to publicly endorse the code and it will now promote the code to its members and encourage other gambling companies in the Netherlands to sign up to it.
Evolution Gaming offers €1.9bn to acquire NetEnt
Evolution Gaming has tabled a SEK19.6bn (€1.87bn) bid for slots giant NetEnt.
“The merger of Evolution’s leading position in live casino and NetEnt’s strong position within online slots will create a first-class B2B supplier with the opportunity to drive digitalization of the global gaming industry,” Evolution Gaming said.
The offer has been welcomed by NetEnt chairman Mathias Hedlund, who said the combination of his group’s reach in online slots and Evolution’s live casino product would give it greater leverage in expanding markets.
NetEnt shareholders have already confirmed that they will accept the offer. Completion of the deal is expected to take place on 2 November.
Upcoming events
The following events may be of interest to members of the GiH community.
Due to current events, most events that were to take place before the summer have been postponed. However, the following events are still on track to take place later in the year.
The Gaming in Germany Conference has now been scheduled to take place on October 19, 2020 in Berlin – one day prior to iGB Berlin 2020. More details to follow soon. Save the date!
Betting on Sports America, the largest dedicated sports betting trade show in the world, returns to Meadowlands, New Jersey from 1 – 3 December.
The World Gaming Executive Summit will return to Barcelona from 7 – 9 December. Key themes on the agenda include AI, the future of land-based gaming, CSR, sustainable marketing, regulation updates, fantasy sports, and emerging marketing opportunities.
Dutch Remote Gaming Act may face delay of several months
During yesterday’s debate the Dutch Lower House adopted several motions on the implementation of the country’s Remote Gaming Act.
This included a motion calling for an additional consultation to determine whether delaying the opening of the regulated online market is necessary due to impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the land-based sector.
However, during last week’s debate on the motions, Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker said that he would consider delaying the entry into force of the Remote Gaming Act rather than merely delay the opening of the regulated market – which is scheduled to occur six months after the Act comes into force. At this point, it seems reasonable to expect an additional two to three-month delay, meaning that the Remote Gaming Act is now likely to come into force on either March 1 or April 1, 2021, with the regulated online market opening on either September 1 or October 1 of next year. The cooling-off period will then be extended for a commensurate period of time.
In what is at least a temporary victory for trade association VAN Kansspelen, the Lower House also adopted a motion calling on the Minister to reconsider the recently introduced requirement for amusement arcades to maintain a visitor registration database for all customers.
Last but not least, the Lower House also agreed to a motion that would shift the future responsibility for developing problem gambling prevention policy from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport.
A motion calling for a reduction in the license term for operators from five years to three years was rejected.
Other news
Minister Sander Dekker for Legal Protection answered Parliamentary questions on illegal gambling advertising and video game loot boxes.
Dutch charity lottery operator Fairshare Nederland has named a new beneficiary: Stichting Bio Vakantieoord.
Arjan van 't Veer, Secretary General of The European Lotteries, was elected as Chairman of the European Association for the Study of Gambling (EASG).
Germany-facing online casino operators may enjoy some temporary tranquility after local officials decided to press pause on pursuing sanctions against an unspecified international online operator.
ANJ, the new French overall gambling regulator and successor to ARJEL, has started operations.
The Malta Gaming Authority has published its 2019 annual report.
Denmark’s Gaming Authority has updated its technical and reporting requirements for online gambling licensees, requiring self-exclusion checks before push notifications and creating a new reporting category for virtuals.
Italy’s land-based gamblers didn’t report any significant increase in online activity during the country’s lengthy pandemic lockdown period, according to a new study.
Camelot has been granted a six-month extension to its license to operate the UK National Lottery.
UK Casinos have been excluded from the government’s list of leisure and hospitality venues that will be allowed to reopen for business on 4 July.
Spanish operator Codere SA will avoid filing for bankruptcy after the embattled Bolsa Madrid gambling group secured a new 12-month €150 million credit line sanctioned by a new US investor.3