Happy New Year! Wishing all the best to you as we head into 2025.
Netherlands’ leading gambling lawyers launch new firm
The Netherlands’ leading gambling lawyers Justin Franssen and Frank Tolboom have launched a new law firm, Franssen Tolboom Advocaten.
The new firm is a continuation of the Gaming and Gambling Practice Group of Kalff Katz & Franssen, which firm, as a consequence of the launch of Franssen Tolboom, has been dissolved.
All staff of the Gaming and Gambling Practice Group of Kalff Katz & Franssen have joined Franssen Tolboom Advocaten, including Dr. Alan Littler, who will take up the position of the firm's Legal Director.
Join our Gaming in France Networking Event @ICE Barcelona!
Gaming in Europe is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a France networking event during ICE 2025 in partnership with Gaming&Co. The event aims to of provide insights on the key business and political issues impacting potential online casino regulation in France.
When: January 21, 15:30-17:00
Speakers: Nicolas Béraud, CEO, Betclic Group; Diane Mullenex, Partner, Pinsent Masons; other speakers TBA
Please note that places are strictly limited. Please click here to join our waitlist.
More Gaming in Europe @ICE 2025 + updated stand number
Although ICE has moved to Barcelona, Gaming in Holland/Gaming in Europe will continue to be present at the event.
Please visit our stand MC12/MC13 at ICE Barcelona, where you can learn more about our 2025 events – including the inaugural Leaders in Compliance Conference.
While you are there, don't forget to participate in our raffle for a chance to win a free copy of the Las Vegas Book – a luxurious and majestic tribute to the Las Vegas Strip.
In addition to the Gaming in France networking event, we will be hosting two other 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.
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!
Netherlands Gambling Authority implements new fine policy
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has implemented updated policy guidelines to determine the size of any fines the regulator will issue in the future.
The new guidelines contain five categories with fines ranging from €500 to €2m, with fines of the fifth category reserved for violations of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (Wwft).
Fines can be increased beyond the statutory limits if the financial gains resulting from the violations exceed the limits specified in the new guidelines.
Additionally, category 4 violations can be punished with turnover-based fines of up to 3% of the offender's gross revenue.
Netherlands Gambling Authority fines Costa Rica-based operator, Kindred
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has imposed a €1,050,000 fine on Costa Rica-based Alimaniere Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada for operating unauthorized online gambling websites targeting Dutch players.
Initially, Alimaniere targeted the Dutch market through its time2spin.com website. Following the issuance of a conditional penalty payment by the Dutch regulator, access to this website was blocked, but Alimaniere subsequently launched timetospin1.com, allowing existing players to access their accounts from the previous platform.
Presently, both websites are inaccessible from the Netherlands.
Late last year, the Dutch regulator also issued a €400,000 fine to Kindred for inadvertently allowing fifteen players, who at the time were registered in the Dutch national exclusion register, CRUKS, to have access to their product offering.
Finally, the Dutch regulator issued two conditional penalty payments of up to €131,250 and €65,625 to an organizer of illegal land-based bingo games.
Netherlands Gambling Authority repeals licenses of Tombola, LiveScore Bet
Following their voluntary withdrawals from the Dutch market, the online gambling licenses of Tombola and LiveScore Bet have now also been officially repealed by the Dutch regulator.
Dutch government to seek Europe-wide ban on loot boxes
Minister for Economic Affairs, Dirk Beljaarts said in response to parliamentary questioning that the Dutch government will seek support among other Member States to include a ban on video game loot boxes in the EU's upcoming Digital Fairness Act.
Evolution Gaming under UK Gambling Commission scrutiny for supplying illegal operators
The UK Gambling Commission has launched a review of Evolution’s operating license in the UK, as the regulator has found its games are being provided to unlicensed operators in the country.
In November Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes warned operators in the UK to carry out due diligence on their supplier partners. This, he said, was to ensure they aren’t supporting black market activity.
In the UK, gambling software suppliers require a license from the Gambling Commission to supply their software to UK-licensed operators.
In related news, a recent report by Dutch investigative journalism platform Follow the Money revealed that Malta-based software supplier Delasport also operates dozens of illegal gambling websites targeting consumers across Europe.
In the Netherlands, Delasport supplies locally licensed operator OneCasino.
Ban on gambling sponsorships to have significant impact on Dutch sports
Gambling sponsorships will no longer be allowed in the Netherlands from July 1, 2025, onward. This will have a significant impact on the financing of sports, a three-part series (I, II, III) in Dutch daily AD reveals.
Professional football, the largest beneficiary of gambling sponsorships, is set to lose €40m in direct sponsorship income, as well as €30m in indirect advertising income, according to Bas Raemakers, representing Eredivisie CV.
Other, smaller sports, such as darts and volleyball, will be hit hard, too. At the same time, remittances from Nederlandse Loterij to Dutch sports are likely to be lowered as well – due to the recent increase in the gambling tax rate.
“Simply put, the future doesn't look too bright right now,” said Wijnand Geerdink, representative of CEVN – the Netherlands’ top volleyball league.
Other news
Maartje Geven has been appointed Chief Technology & Information Officer (CTIO) and board member at Nederlandse Loterij.
Martijn van Dijk, founder of Scorito and Scori PRO, discusses his journey from uninspired student to established entrepreneur.
QMRA has extended its affiliate compliance certification program to the Australian market.
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