2021 GiH Conference to feature sessions on responsible gaming and compliance
In addition to a keynote speech by Netherlands Gambling Authority chair René Jansen and a panel consisting of the CEOs of the largest Dutch gambling operators, the 2021 GiH Conference will also feature sessions on responsible gaming and compliance.
These compliance and RG sessions will focus on the practical side of managing your obligations as a Netherlands-licensed gambling operator and are not to be missed if you are unsure of your obligations under the new Remote Gambling Act.
The full-day event concludes with networking and drinks at Holland Casino Amsterdam Centrum.
In accordance with current Covid-19 restrictions, all conference visitors must show proof of vaccination, or a negative test result no older than 24 hours prior to the start of the event.
Don't miss it: Register today: https://bit.ly/3vJHiPU
Save the date: Interxion/GiH business drinks – Sept. 27
Join us on Monday, September 27, from 18:00-20:00, at the Interxion drinks and networking event, co-hosted with Gaming in Holland. The event will take place the night before the 2021 Gaming in Holland Conference.
Save the date!
A registration link will be available next week.
“Quality certification would help Dutch affiliates”
A quality certification governed by a trade association for compliant casino affiliates would be a big benefit to the Dutch affiliate sector, according to Steven Vrolijk, founder of XY Legal Solutions.
Dutch gambling regulations stipulate that licensed operators are responsible for the contents of all advertising and marketing expressions published on their behalf. This means that, in order to prevent regulatory backlash, operators would need to do their own compliance checks of all affiliates they partner with.
However, an independent and reliable quality certification specifically aimed at affiliate advertising could remove this burden from operators and would make reliable affiliates more attractive business partners to the licensed gambling industry. Thus, such an initiative would greatly benefit responsible affiliates, Vrolijk writes.
Jack's Casino welcomes Rafael van der Vaart as brand ambassador
Former "Oranje” international Rafael van der Vaart has joined Jack's Casino as brand ambassador. Van der Vaart will be closely involved with several sports events and competitions that are sponsored by Jack's Casino, such as Jack's League, Jack’s World Series of Darts Finals, Glory, and Jack’s Racing Day.
Eric Olders, CEO Jack's Casino: “In our view, Rafael van der Vaart is the perfect brand ambassador for us. We look forward to working together on both existing and new projects, in order to make our events even more attractive to fans, our guests, and, of course, our staff.”
Danish and Irish gambling industry associations adopt advertising codes of conduct
Danish gambling operators have launched a new dedicated board for the handling of advertising-related complaints. The new board (Spilreklamenævnet) will allow consumers to file complaints about gambling marketing activities.
The complaints board will be managed by Danish professional services organization HORESTA, providing a direct gambling complaints service for audiences in the country across all media.
“With the Gambling Advertising Board, we have an effective watchdog, which must help to ensure and maintain a responsible and ethical marketing of gambling,” said Morten Rønde, CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association.
Meanwhile, the members of the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) have adopted a new “Code of Practice on Safer Gambling,” which will introduce an industry-wide ban on credit card transactions and a pre-9pm watershed ban on gambling advertising during general broadcasts, as well as a whistle-to-whistle advertising ban on live sports programming.
Both initiatives fit in with a broader trend towards voluntary industry self-regulation, in order to potentially head off more sweeping advertising restrictions as have been introduced in, e.g., Italy and Spain.
Upcoming events
The following events may be of interest to the GiH community.
Events
Kindred Group will host the 6th annual Sustainable Gambling Conference on 5 October. The event will take place online and is free to attend.
Get ready for the 2021 Gaming in Germany Conference, which will take place 25 October at the Grand Hyatt Berlin.
SiGMA Europe has been rescheduled to 16 – 18 November, 2021.
The Betting on Sports America conference and expo has been scheduled for 30 November – 2 December, 2021 and will bring together all the major players in the fast-growing North American sports betting industry.
The World Gaming Executive Summit is returning live on 6 – 8 December, 2021 at the W Hotel, Barcelona.
ICE London and iGB Affiliate London have been scheduled to take place 1 – 3 February, 2022.
Webinars and virtual events
The European Association for the Study of Gambling (EASG) will host three virtual events in the period 7 – 9 September featuring several leading voices in the responsible gaming community.
Netherlands Gambling Authority publishes reporting formats for licensed operators
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has published new reporting formats for licensed online and land-based operators. The recently introduced Remote Gambling Act imposes new yearly and quarterly reporting obligations on all Netherlands-licensed gambling operators.
To facilitate reporting, the Dutch regulator has developed Excel forms for both land-based and online operators.
Licensed operators are expected to provide in-depth reports on their marketing spend, addiction prevention methods, AML alerts, complaints, player registrations, and quality control.
The reporting requirements are, as much as possible, in line with what is customary in other developed jurisdictions, the regulator said.
Other news
Lottery platform Lotify has agreed to facilitate two charity lottery draws on behalf of the Nederlandse Hartstichting.
Oryx Gaming's iGaming platform and remote gaming server have been certified as fully compliant with Dutch regulations.
William Hill subsidiary Mr Green has been hit with a SEK 31.5m fine by the Swedish gambling regulator over a series of problem gambling and AML failures.
Betclic has secured a five-year marketing partnership with the French Football Federation.
Entain expects to expand into the African online sports betting market by the end of 2021, possibly targeting Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Wynn Resorts will spend more than US$100 million in the coming months marketing its new sports-betting app.