Dutch Court upholds €312,500 Mr Green fine
The District Court in The Hague has upheld a €312,500 fine issued by the Netherlands Gambling Authority to online operator Mr Green, for violating the regulator's post-2017 prioritization criteria.
The court found that tightening of the Dutch regulator's prioritization criteria in June 2017 did not impose an unreasonable burden on the operator. The court also followed earlier jurisprudence that the regulator's prioritization criteria could not be construed as a de facto tolerance policy.
Finally, the court found that the amount of the fine was not excessive.
Netherlands Gambling Authority takes action against 37 gaming machine operators
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has taken action against 37 hospitality establishments which operated gaming machines without the proper municipal permits.
Although the Dutch regulator issues operating licenses for gaming machines, venues also need a municipal presence permit to confirm that the machines are located in permitted places, i.e., locations predominantly visited by adults.
“Attendance permits are also important to prevent gaming machines from being used for criminal activities,” the Dutch regulator added.
Minister: “Identities of unsuccessful license applicants to remain confidential”
Responding to Parliamentary questions submitted by Mirjam Bikker (CU) and Michiel van Nispen (SP), Minister Franc Weerwind for Legal Protection said that the identities of unsuccessful online gambling licenses applicants should remain confidential in order to avoid unjust reputational damage.
Netherlands-licensed Bingoal signs deal with Neccton to prevent problem gambling
Bingoal has selected Neccton’s Mentor software for its online casino and sportsbook in the Netherlands.
Mentor tracks possible problematic gambling behavior using real-time data analysis and works to help both players and operators to identify potential issues early. The tool recognizes triggers such as a significant increase in deposit frequency, and alerts the operator and directly contacts the player, helping the player make better-informed decisions about their play.
Curaçao to take steps to re-regulate iGaming by the end of 2022
The Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO), a public body that is currently being formed to assist the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in undertaking administrative reforms, has released a roadmap for the re-regulation of Curaçao's (online) gambling policy.
The proposed reforms, which include the formation of a new regulator, the Curaçao Gaming Authority, in order to strengthen oversight of Curaçao's large offshore iGaming industry, should be fully concluded by the fourth quarter of 2022.
Belgian government proposes blanket ban on gambling advertising
The Belgian government has announced plans to introduce a blanket ban on all forms of gambling advertising in the country.
Under the proposals, gambling companies and platforms will not be able to advertise on radio, TV, social media, posters, newspapers, or via personalized emails or texts.
Belgium’s federal justice minister, Vincent van Quickenborne said: “Gambling is the new smoking; the gambling industry is making more and more profit in our country, all thanks to people with a gambling addiction.”
Surprisingly, the proposals include a ban on sports sponsorships, which would enter into force in late 2024, even though not all coalition parties are currently on board with these restrictions.
The proposals were met with heavy criticism from trade association Bago.
Germany issues first virtual slots license
The State Administrative Office of Saxony-Anhalt has issued Germany's very first virtual slots license to Mernov mbH, an apparent joint venture between Gauselmann and Novomatic.
Virtual slots were first permitted outside of Schleswig-Holstein under the Fourth State Gambling Treaty, which entered into force on July 1, 2021. It took, however, eleven months before the first virtual slots license was approved.
Germany's new national regulator, the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), will take over the licensing process from January 2023 onward.
Meanwhile, Germany’s 33 licensed sports betting operators have joined together to launch a lawsuit challenging the far-reaching restrictions on permitted bet types.
The defendant in the lawsuit will be the State of Hesse, which is currently in charge of overseeing the licensing of sports betting at a national level.
Upcoming events
The following events may be of interest to the GiH community.
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.
Holland Casino appoints airline executive Petra de Ruiter as its new CEO
Holland Casino has named veteran airline executive Petra de Ruiter (52) its new CEO, to replace outgoing Erwin van Lambaart.
De Ruiter joins Holland Casino from airline company Transavia where she served as chief operating officer since September 2016.
Willem Bröcker, Chairman of Holland Casino’s Supervisory Board, commented: “Petra de Ruiter’s experience and knowledge in the specific combination of guest experience and operational excellence are an utstanding match for the person we were looking for after the departure of the previous CEO Erwin van Lambaart. With our 14 offices and now also online, we work in a highly regulated sector and operate in a complex stakeholder field. Proven expertise is of great importance there.”
De Ruiter added: “Hospitality is in the DNA of all employees at Holland Casino, which is also vital in my current job. Whether online or offline, every guest simply wants to feel seen, heard, and valued. Holland Casino is a friendly, responsible and leading entertainment company with 3,500 employees who want the best for all guests every day. I am very much looking forward to this new role and this great challenge.”
From September 1, the Board of Directors of Holland Casino will consist of Petra de Ruiter (Chief Executive Officer), Ruud Bergervoet (Chief Financial Officer), and Malinda Miener (Chief Compliance Officer).