Netherlands Gambling Authority imposes €900,000 fine on Shark77
Malta-licensed online gambling operator Shark77 has been hit with a €900,000 fine for operating in the Netherlands without a valid license.
The Dutch gambling authority repeatedly investigated Shark77's 18bet.com website in late 2021 and early 2022 and found that the website explicitly accepted customers based in the Netherlands. The Dutch regulator also claimed that the 18bet.com website received a significant amount of traffic originating from the Netherlands.
During its investigation, the Dutch regulator found several aggravating circumstances that warranted an increase in the fine issued toShark77. These circumstances included the absence of age verification checks, inactivity fees, and the presence of banned games and game features.
Jacks.nl hit with €400,000 fine over young adult advertising
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has hit JOI Gaming's Jacks.nl brand with a €400,000 fine for failing to exclude young adults from receiving promotional email messages.
Dutch law stipulates that licensed operators cannot send any form of advertising to young adults between the ages of 18 and 23, even if they are registered with the operator.
The violations occurred between December 8, 2021, and March 7, 2022.
Last December, Nederlandse Loterij was hit with an identical fine for a similar rule violation.
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.
If you are in London, please consider visiting us at stand SD6-A.
In addition, you are cordially invited to join us on February 8 for our Gaming in Holland Lunch where you can meet colleagues, industry peers, and other gaming professionals.
As places are limited, please send us an email to reserve your seat at rsvp@gaminginholland.com.
Looking for additional Netherlands-focused events? Eurocoin Gaming invites its customers to join the 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.
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
Illegal poker tournaments flourish as Holland Casino offers fewer poker options
Illegal land-based poker tournaments are becoming increasingly popular due to a decreasing number of poker games at Holland Casino, Dutch national broadcaster NOS reports.
“Illegal activity has increased. We too are concerned about this development,” a Holland Casino spokesperson said.
According to the state-owned operator, the decrease in legal poker offerings is caused by staff shortages. “This issue is not easily or quickly fixed,” the Holland Casino spokesperson added.
Upcoming events
The following event(s) may be of interest to the GiH community.
On January 30, Centrum voor Verantwoord Spelen will celebrate its 10th anniversary at former ocean liner SS Rotterdam.
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!
NOGA Director: “Google violates Dutch Gambling Act”
In an interview with Meneer Casino, Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Director of trade association NOGA, claims that tech giant Google continues to earn money through the sale of advertisements that promote illegal gambling in the Netherlands. According to De Goeij, this behavior not only threatens the regulated market, but also amounts to a violation of the Dutch Gambling Act:
“Many players who make use of illegal offerings have fallen into this trap through online advertisements. This includes ads that appear on Google. Strangely enough, plenty of such advertisements can be found there.
Google is a company that – indirectly – earns a lot of money from illegal gambling. They sell search engine advertising that promotes unlicensed gambling. In my opinion, this violates the Dutch Gambling Act. [...] apparently it is very difficult [for the regulator] to take on big tech companies such as Google and Facebook, and to persuade them to do the right thing.”
A quick check confirms De Goeij's claims. Searches of phrases such as “online casino” not only result in the display of ads from Netherlands-licensed operators, but also shows advertisements from affiliate websites that clearly and unmistakably promote illegal offerings (e.g., “Top 10 Casinos With Ideal 2023 – Online Casino van Nederland” – all of which turn out to be unlicensed).
Other news
In a personal blog post, Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair René Jansen promises an increased enforcement focus on illegal land-based gambling.
Casino solutions provider Aruze Gaming has opened its first European office in the Netherlands.
A Belgian court ruled that new ID verification rules for land-based betting shops are disproportionate and violate existing privacy regulations.
The GB Gambling Commission has given approval for Allwyn to proceed with its planned acquisition of Camelot UK Lotteries.
Betsson secures LatAm sponsorship deal with Chili's First Division.