Unibet lowers RTP percentages on Netherlands-facing slots games
Unibet's Netherlands-facing casino has lowered the return-to-player percentages on hundreds of its online slot games, Meneer Casino reports.
This includes games developed by Netent, Play ’n Go, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, and Relax Gaming.
Country Manager Lennart Kessels commented: “The RTPs of several slots on Unibet's Netherlands-facing website site have indeed been adjusted to bring these more in line with the RTPs that Kindred offers in other countries – which are generally similar to the RTPs offered by other providers. This has been a business decision.”
Asked whether the adjustments are to be permanent, Kessels said: “They are permanent, but it will stop here. It is not a race to the bottom.”
So far, it appears that Unibet is the only Dutch online casino that has adjusted the RTPs of its games downwards.
Unibet's decision may be related to disappointing Q4 results, or a sign of increasing maturity of the regulated Dutch online market.
Clarion Gaming releases shortlist for future ICE locations
The event, currently held in London, has recently been slated to move after Clarion’s partners alleged cost difficulties in attending an event held in the UK, Gambling Insider reports.
Four cities have been shortlisted as potential hosts for future iterations of ICE from 2025 onwards. These are Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and London. The latter's bid would need to be particularly tempting given the calls for its relocation.
The bidding process is expected to be completed later in 2023, with a decision expected in the third quarter of the year.
Registration for 2023 Gaming in Holland Conference now open
The 2023 Gaming in Holland Conference is set to take place on June 8, 2023, at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam – a historically important and centrally located venue.
The 2023 GiH Conference will be THE place to get high-quality business intelligence, regulatory updates, and market projections related to the Dutch regulated gambling market.
The following speakers have already confirmed their participation:
René Jansen, Chair of the Netherlands Gambling Authority
Pontus Lindvall, CEO of Betsson
Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO of Mindway AI
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Don't miss it! Book your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3XYaQI8
Upcoming events
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. Holland Casino Venlo is among the nominees in the “Best Overall Casino” category!
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. Registration is now open!
Netherlands Gambling Authority to launch updated CRUKS registration website in H1 2023
An updated version of the website through which players may register themselves in the Netherlands’ national exclusion register, CRUKS, will be launched before the summer of 2023,
Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair, René Jansen said.
Jansen made his remarks in a speech delivered during the festivities accompanying the 10-year anniversary of Centrum voor Verantwoord Spelen.
The announced update of the cruksregister.nl website is specifically aimed at facilitating the registration process for low-literate players or those with limited digital skills. Involuntary registrations should also be simplified.
The launch of the updated CRUKS registration website will be accompanied by a public information campaign, Jansen added.
There appear to be no plans for amending the exclusion database itself.
Other news
The former founders of illegal gambling operator Amsterdams Casino have been ordered by the 's Hertogenbosch District Court to relinquish illicit proceeds to the value of €24m to the Dutch state.
Bingoal, former sponsor of professional cyclist and YouTuber Bas Tietema, has filed a lawsuit demanding that the "Tour de Tietema” professional cycling team set aside its current sponsor
Unibet and continue with Bingoal – or pay €2m in damages.
The International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) have published their January 2023 magazine.
888 CEO Itai Pazner is leaving his role with immediate effect, in the wake of the business revealing failings in AML and KYC processes for customers in the Middle East.