VIDEO | Gaming in Holland Conference highlights
Last week saw another successful edition of our annual Gaming in Holland Conference. Expert speakers and key decision makers gathered at Jaarbeurs Utrecht to discuss the latest developments in the Dutch regulated gambling market.
A video showing some of the Conference's highlights is now available. Check it out here: GiH Conference highlight video.
The keynote speech, delivered by Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair, René Jansen, is available here: GiH Conference keynote speech.
GiH networking drinks on July 7 in Amsterdam
Join us in Amsterdam on July 7 for another edition of the Gaming in Holland networking drinks.
Meet other gaming professionals while you are in town for iGB Live, which has been scheduled for July 5-8 at RAI Amsterdam.
The GiH networking drinks will take place at Rijnbar Amsterdam – a typical Dutch bar, not far from RAI Amsterdam – which also serves the famous Dutch “bitterballen” snacks.
The first couple of drinks will be free – but only if you registered by sending an email to rsvp@gamingin.eu.
Please note that we can only accommodate a limited number of guests. Subsequent registrants will be placed on a waiting list. Don't wait too long and register now!
Unibet signs sponsorship deals with Telstar and De Graafschap
Newly licensed online operator Unibet has signed sponsorship deals with Telstar and De Graafschap, two football teams that compete in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, the Netherlands’ second professional level.
Earlier, Unibet concluded a sponsorship agreement with AFC Ajax, a move that was condemned by the umbrella organization for Dutch mental health care providers.
Meanwhile, Roda JC, another professional team that competes in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, announced that the club would reject any offers to sign a sponsorship deal with a betting provider, as such a move would go against the club's mission to promote a healthier lifestyle in the region.
Ban on the use of role models enters into force: BetCity switches to anonymous “super fans”
From July 1, Netherlands-licensed operators are no longer allowed to use any kind of role models to promote their game offering. Previously, only the use of role models who are deemed to have a “substantial” following among minors or young adults was prohibited.
As a result of this rule change, leading Dutch operator BetCity was forced to retire its brand ambassadors, former footballers Andy van der Meijde, Wesley Sneijder, Sjaak Swart, and Wim Kieft, and to replace them with a trio of anonymous “super fans,” i.e., paid actors.
Holland Casino concludes new labor agreement with trade unions
Holland Casino has agreed a new binding labor agreement with trade unions FNV and De Unie.
The agreement includes a 2.5% wage increase, a new minimum wage of €14 per hour, as well as another 0,75% wage increase from the start of 2023.
Marleen Berk, human resources director at Holland Casino, said: “The past two years have been dominated for Holland Casino by the impact of the coronavirus. In our negations, we had to consider, on the one hand, Holland Casino’s financial position, as well as inflation and the current situation of the labor market on the other. With this wage increase, we have achieved a balanced agreement that is good for our employees and for Holland Casino.”
Germany issues two new virtual slots licenses
Tipwin and Mybet have become the second and third nationwide online slots licensees in Germany. The pair join Gauselmann-owned Mernov on the white list to offer online slots.
Licenses are currently issued by the Glücksspielkollegium, a body representing Germany's 16 federal states. Although Germany's new State Gambling Treaty entered into force on July 1, 2021, only three virtual slots licenses have been granted in the past year – none so far for either casino (table) games or poker.
Germany's new national regulator, GGL will become responsible for licensing from January 1, 2023, onward.
However, the new national regulator will begin blocking IP addresses and payments for unlicensed websites from this Friday, with further details to be provided a week after the policy comes into effect.
Netherlands Gambling Authority chair questions industry's ability to self-regulate
René Jansen, chair of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, has questioned the ability of licensed online operators to effectively self-regulate their behavior.
Jansen made his remarks in a personal blog post on the website of the Dutch regulator.
These remarks follow Jansen’s keynote speech at last week's the Gaming in Holland Conference, in which he called out operators for not adequately fulfilling their duty of care.
Jansen specifically called out “the behavior of some legal operators, who – unfortunately – did look for the edges of the law.”
“This raises the question of the extent to which the sector as a whole is capable of self-regulation and individual operators are prepared to behave responsibly,” Jansen continued.
Jansen's remarks reflect the significant public and political backlash that emerged as a result of the sharply increased visibility of gambling following the opening of the regulated online market on October 1, 2021.
Other news
Dutch financial daily FD has published a profile of BetCity CEO Melvin Bostelaar.
Janshen-Hahnraths's private security organization has secured two additional licenses, making it the only Dutch gambling provider to have its own security organization with four licenses recognized by the country's Ministry of Justice and Security.
The UK Gambling Commission has announced plans to introduce a new licensing operation system.
William Hill has confirmed the departure of chief executive Ulrik Bengtsson days before the completion of the sale of the group’s international business to 888 Holdings.
Denmark saw a decrease in sports betting and online gaming despite an increase in total gross gaming revenue during the first quarter of 2022.