Meet Gaming in Holland at ICE 2023
Like everyone else, we are getting ready for ICE 2023, which will take place February 7-9, 2023, at the ExCel Centre London.
Please join us on February 8 for our Gaming in Holland Lunch or Gaming in Germany Breakfast, where you can meet colleagues, industry peers, and other gaming professionals.
As places are limited, please send us an email to reserve your seat. If you would like to attend the Gaming in Holland Lunch, email us at rsvp@gaminginholland.com. If you would like to join us for our Gaming in Germany Breakfast, please contact us at rsvp@gamingingermany.com.
While you are in London, do not miss Eurocoin's traditional “Holland Party” on February 8 at the Top 1 Forever Restaurant, right next to the Excel Centre. The party starts at 18:00 and will end at 21:00. Everybody is welcome and no registration is necessary!
Get your free copy of the Gaming in Holland Magazine
We are about to publish another issue of our hardcopy Gaming in Holland Magazine. The latest issue will contain interviews with Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair, René Jansen; Nederlandse Loterij CEO and CMO, Niels Onkenhout and Arno de Jong; a discussion of the possible privatization of Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino (including estimated enterprise values); and much more.
If you haven't previously received a copy of our magazine, please request the latest issue here: https://signup.gamingin.eu/
Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair, René Jansen to speak at 2023 GiH Conference
The Chair of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, René Jansen will be one of our keynote speakers at this year's Gaming in Holland Conference.
Jansen is the second confirmed speaker after Betsson CEO Pontus Lindvall.
The 2023 GiH Conference will take place on June 8, 2023, at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam – a historically important and centrally located venue.
Don't miss it. Save the date!
Power struggle between Postcode Loterij founder and board of directors
A series of heated arguments at Novamedia Holding, the international parent company of the Postcode Lottery, has escalated into a power struggle between the company's founder, Boudewijn Poelmann and the current Board of Directors, including Poelmann's former protege and current CEO, Sigrid van Aken.
Despite mutual recriminations, a lawsuit was narrowly averted by a last-minute agreement between Poelmann and the Board of Directors. The acrimonious conflict, however, does not yet appear to have been fully resolved.
International iGaming operators launch Finnish trade associations
Following the news that the Finnish government would start an investigation into ending its Veikkaus gambling monopoly, several international iGaming operators – including Betsson, Entain, Flutter, Kindred, and William Hill International – announced the launch of the Gambling Industry Association Finland (Rahapeliala).
The new association “will promote the interests of online gambling companies who support the introduction of a responsible and sustainable multi-licensing system for online gambling in Finland.”
The following event(s) may be of interest to the GiH community:
The European Casino Awards, timed to coincide with ICE 2023, will be awarded on February 7, 2023, at The Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London.
Don't miss the 2023 Gaming in Spain Conference on March 28, 2023, in Madrid. Confirmed speakers include both the current and former leadership of Spain's national regulator DGOJ. Save the date!
Dutch Competition Authority urged to launch investigation into state-owned gambling operators
As we reported earlier, new online market entrant Circus.nl submitted a complaint to Dutch competition authority ACM over alleged violations of fair competition rules by land-based monopolists Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino.
Recent reporting by Dutch financial daily FD revealed additional details. The complaint alleges that profits generated from monopoly activities was used to finance costly advertising campaigns for Nederlandse Loterij's and Holland Casino's newly launched online brands.
After reportedly acquiring half of the market share of the regulated Dutch online gambling market, the two state-owned operators subsequently agreed with other large operators and media companies to restrict all future broadcast advertising by licensed operators.
The Dutch competition authority confirmed that it is currently dealing with the complaint. “We are required by law to carefully consider such requests," a spokesperson said.
Other news
Betsson has shut down Casino Winner – a rebranding of its Netherlands-facing Kroon Casino – after previously shuttering Loyal Casino (formerly Oranje Casino). Betsson acquired both properties in 2014 in anticipation of the opening of the Dutch regulated online gambling market.
The CEO of Swedish state-owned enterprise Svenska Spel, Patrik Hofbauer, called for a national debt register as part of the country's efforts to tackle gambling harm.
The English Football Association (FA) has launched an investigation into allegations of suspicious betting activity, focusing on the yellow card handed to Oxford player Ciaron Brown in the 59th minute.
Bet365 reported an 88% profit decline for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, despite a small increase in revenues.