We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you very much for all your support throughout the year. All the best for 2025!
Sharp rise in Google searches for illegal online casinos in the Netherlands
Google searches for certain illegal online casinos have risen sharply in the Netherlands, CasinoNieuws reveals.
Specifically, Google searches for illegal online casinos Lalabet and Jungliwin increased up to 850% during 2024.
On average, there are 450,000 monthly Google searches originating from the Netherlands for Lalabet alone. Compared with licensed operators, only BetCity TOTO and Unibet generate more search traffic than Lalabet.
These findings indicate that illegal online operators are an increasing threat to the regulated market.
Netherlands Gambling Authority launches campaign promoting gambling breaks
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has announced the launch of a new awareness campaign revolving around the slogan “Pick up your life again, take a gambling break.”
The campaign is primarily aimed at young adults who might have started to lose control over their gambling behavior and seeks to increase awareness of the Dutch CRUKS national gambling exclusion register.
Ads associated with the campaign will appear on social media platforms and direct to the gokstop.nl website where visitors can find information about CRUKS.
Netherlands Gambling Authority issues conditional penalty payment order to Curaçao-based operator
The Dutch gambling regulator has hit Curaçao-based FBC B.V. with a conditional penalty payment order for offering unlicensed online gambling in the Netherlands through its freebitco.in website.
FBC has been given four weeks to cease its operations in the Netherlands or face a fine of up to €840,000.
Jack's Casino Akersloot wins Onetime's “Best Casino of the Netherlands” award
Jack's Casino Akersloot has been selected as the best land-based casino of 2024 by the Onetime casino community.
Onetime's mystery reviewers particularly praised the service and customer-friendliness of the Jack's Akersloot venue.
LeoVegas Group joins the European Gaming and Betting Association
LeoVegas has joined the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) as its newest member.
Carl Brincat, Director of Policy & Regulatory Affairs at LeoVegas Group, commented: “As a company committed to safer gambling and technological innovation, we look forward to contributing our expertise to EGBA’s important work. This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision of leading the way towards a sustainable and well-regulated gambling industry in Europe.”
“We’re delighted to welcome LeoVegas Group to EGBA’s membership,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA. “As a leader in our industry and with strong Nordic market presence, LeoVegas Group brings valuable expertise to our association and will enhance our collective efforts to promote a well-regulated and sustainable gambling sector in Europe.”
Curaçao parliament adopts new gambling legislation
The parliament of Curaçao has adopted the “Landsverordening op de Kansspelen” (LOK), which would introduce a stricter licensing regime for Curaçao-based online gambling operators.
The new legislation is expected to enter into force next week.
Operators who obtained provisional LOK licenses in the past year will have twelve months to meet the new, stricter regulations.
Gaming in Europe at ICE 2025: Save the date!
Although ICE has moved to Barcelona, Gaming in Holland/Gaming in Europe will continue to be present at the event.
In 2025, we will host the following mini events:
Gaming in Germany Breakfast
January 21, 09:00 – 11:00
Speaker: Sina Rencz-Baasch, Department Head Virtual Slot Games, GGL
Gaming in Holland Lunch
January 21, 12:30 – 14:30
Speaker: Michel Groothuizen, Chair, Netherlands Gambling Authority
Please note that places are strictly limited, and that preference will be given to paid conference attendees, who will receive a personal invitation by email.
If you would like to join the waitlist for our Gaming in Holland Lunch, please click here.
To join the waitlist for our Gaming in Germany Breakfast, please click here.
Please note that KSA Chair Michel Groothuizen will also make an appearance at the ICE World Gaming Forum, where he will discuss ad bans and deposit limits with DGOJ Director General Mikel Arana.
Additionally, feel free to visit our stand MC38/39, where you can leave your business card to participate in a raffle to win a free copy of the Las Vegas Book.
PS: If you are exhibiting at ICE (or otherwise participating) and need help organizing your tailor-made evening event, please consider contacting Sapyns: https://www.sapyns.com/ice2025.
Leaders in Compliance: ICE Networking Drinks & May Conference
Leaders in Compliance is a new initiative by Gaming in Europe that aims to bring together compliance professionals in the gambling sector, in which we are cooperating closely with compliance experts Chevron Consultants.
The inaugural Leaders in Compliance Conference is now confirmed to take place 8-9 May 2025 (moved from April 24-25), at the Hilton Frankfurt Airport Hotel, conveniently located directly adjacent to the airport terminal and interregional train station.
Additionally, everyone who is professionally involved in gambling compliance is cordially invited to attend the Leaders in Compliance Networking Drinks @ ICE on January 20, 2025, in Barcelona
If you are a compliance professional and would like to attend the Leaders in Compliance Networking Drinks, please click here to register: https://lu.ma/h1a4ib0z
See you in Barcelona!
March 2025 next key moment in Dutch gambling policy
The Permanent Committee for Justice and Security of the Dutch Lower House will hold a key debate on gambling policy on March 27, 2025.
Moreover, Teun Struycken, State Secretary for Legal Protection, said in response to parliamentary questioning that the government will share its policy response to the evaluation of the Remote Gambling Act with the Lower House before that date.
Specifically, this means that we can expect the government to make new regulatory proposals in the next few months, which will then be further discussed by the Permanent Committee for Justice and Security.
Furthermore, the Committee also agreed to hold roundtable discussions with industry representatives and other stakeholders before the March 27 debate. These roundtable discussions were requested by MPs Rosemarijn Dral (VVD) and Peter Smitskam (PVV) and will offer the industry a rare chance to be heard in The Hague.
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