Visit the Gaming in Holland stand @ICE London
ICE London, the world's largest gambling exhibition and trade show, is finally back! We hope to see you all next week in London.
As always, there will be many things to do in addition to visiting the exhibition floor, such as attending the ICE VOX conferences & workshops, the World Regulatory Briefing (WRB), and the International Casino Conference (ICC).
While you are in London, please consider visiting the Gaming in Holland stand ND4-C&D to pick up the latest issue of our print Gaming in Holland Magazine, which includes an interview with Netherlands Gambling Authority chair, René Jansen, as well as a Who is Who in the Dutch gaming industry.
We will also raffle a Cinco Jotas, acorn-fed ibérico ham, an unrivalled product obtained from the rear legs of ibérico pigs raised free range in the meadows of south-west Spain. In short, there are plenty of reasons to stop by!
Malta-based BP Group withdraws from Dutch market
BP Group, one of the last remaining major online casino operators which operated in the Netherlands without a license, has decided to withdraw from the Dutch market. Existing players may cash out until April 24.
Malta-licensed BP Group operates the NitroCasino, 21.com, NeonVegas, JustSpin, Rapid Casino, and UltraCasino brands.
In late January, the Netherlands Gambling Authority warned that it would intensify its enforcement actions against unlicensed operators.
UK to ban footballers, celebrities, and influencers from advertising gambling products
The UK Committee for Advertising Practice (CAP), the body responsible for drawing up advertising codes, has released new restrictions that ban prominent sports figures, celebrities and influencers from advertising gambling products, EGR Intel reports.
The ruling prohibits operators from using advertising of appeal to children, which includes “topflight footballers and footballers with a considerable following among under-18’s on social media,” “all sportspeople well-known to under-18s,” “references to video game content and gameplay popular with under-18s,” and “stars from reality TV shows popular with under-18s.”
While the current framework already prohibits gambling ads that appeal specifically to minors, the new rules are considerably more detailed and proscriptive.
The new rules will enter into force on October 1.
Upcoming events
The following events may be of interest to the GiH community.
Dutch game supplier Eurocoin Gaming will hold open house on May 11-12 in Waalwijk.
The annual members’ meeting of trade association VAN Kansspelen will take place on May 12, also in Waalwijk.
Registration for the 2022 Gaming in Holland Conference & Expo, which will take place June 20-21 at Jaarbeurs Utrecht, is now open.
EASG 2022, the 13th European Conference on Gambling Studies and Policy Issues, has now been scheduled for 6-9 September 2022, and will take place in Oslo, Norway.
Dutch MPs clash over betting sponsorships
Last week, reports emerged that several prominent Dutch professional footballers were closely involved with illegal betting website Edobet. Furthermore, this operator, which ceased operating several years ago, appears to have had significant links to organized crime.
These reports led MP Mirjam Bikker (CU) to question Minister for Legal Protection, Franc Weerwind regarding a possible ban on betting sponsorships.
Weerwind indicated that he would be open to such a ban, but also noted that MPs in the Lower House had expressed divergent opinions on this matter. Weerwind:
“In order to consider introducing a ban on betting sponsorships and related advertising, I would like the Lower House to clearly express such a wish. You may expect that I will propose additional restrictions in the bill that is currently being prepared. But I have also noticed that the Lower House is very divided on this issue.”
Following this remark, MP Rudmer Heerema (VVD) reminded Minister Weerwind that the Lower House had expressed the wish that any future restrictions would not be financially detrimental to clubs and sports associations. Weerwind, however, remarked that, in the meantime, public opinions and political discourse could have progressed.
From this it could perhaps be concluded that Weerwind is content to let the Lower House set the agenda on the topic of future gambling policy.
Other news
The Dutch Advertising Standards Commission has rejected complaints against both Bet365 and Staatsloterij.
Holland Casino Utrecht has been awarded a highly sought-after environmental quality mark.
Denmark’s national regulator Spillemyndigheden has updated guidelines for the marketing and promotion of certain gambling products.
Spain experienced an unexplained 57.8% YoY fall in online sports betting revenue from €103.5m to €43.7m in Q4 2021.
Russia-founded Marathonbet has left the UK market after citing “recent and ongoing events in Europe.”