2025 Gaming in Holland Conference – Save the date!
The 2025 Gaming in Holland Conference will take place June 5, 2025, in Amsterdam.
Save the date!
Netherlands Gambling Authority received 13 reports of potential match-fixing in 2024
In 2024 the Netherlands Gambling Authority's Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) had received thirteen reports of possible match-fixing from eight different operators – more than twice the number of incident reports it received in 2023.
Out of the thirteen reports, ten were from tennis matches, two from football and one from basketball.
Dutch regulator clarifies autoplay regulations
The Netherlands Gambling Authority has issued a warning to a licensed operator for offering an online roulette game that allowed players to automatically repeat their previous bet during the next spin without engaging in a separate action.
According to the regulator, this feature – whether intended or not – falls under the prohibition on autoplay.
Since different operators may use identical software, all other licensees also received a letter from the regulator to remind them of the full extent of the ban on autoplay features.
Regulus: Dutch market case study of negative effects of over-regulation
The Dutch market offers a useful case study of the negative effects of over-regulation, says gambling consultancy firm Regulus Partners.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority recently reported that market channelization in terms of GGR is likely as low as 49%, partially as the result of additional player protection measures (including deposit limits) introduced in the second half of 2024.
Regulus makes two particularly noteworthy observations. First, considering the latest black-market estimates, Dutch per-capita spend on gambling lies not below the European average – as has long been an assumption of local policy makers:
“The KSA has previously assumed that Dutch adults spend less on gambling per capita than the European average, despite the Netherlands being a wealthy nation (€272 in 2023 vs. €339 per adult across Europe; KSA stats). If we gross this figure up for the KSA’s new black market leakage levels, this brings the Dutch average up to €353 – Dutch exceptionalism is a failure of channeling and therefore the fiscal- regulatory regime, not lower spending from Dutch gamblers.”
There is also significant criticism regarding the proportionality of the €700 monthly deposit limit, which has “not impacted over 90% of people,” while “driv[ing] a significant proportion of higher spenders into the black market to avoid government intrusion.”
Austria now likely to continue online casino monopoly
Following the collapse of talks between the conservative ÖVP and right-wing populist FPÖ, a new three-party coalition has been formed in Austria. Instead of an open market, the new coalition appears to have set its sights on a continuation of the current monopoly model.
The government’s coalition agreement suggests that a single 15-year license will be granted for the operation of online casinos when the current sole license – held by Austrian Lotteries – expires in 2027.
The parties also plan to implement a tougher crackdown on the country’s surging unlicensed operators.
Pieter Remmers: “Sometimes, I am seen as an apostate”
Responsible gaming guru and former addiction counselor Pieter Remmers looks back at his long career in a wide-ranging interview with CasinoNieuws.
Contrary to current sensibilities, Remmers believes that gambling addiction researchers and care providers should cooperate more with responsible gambling operators.
Dutch court orders Betsson to repay almost €120,000 in player losses
The District Court of the Northern Netherlands has recently ruled that Malta-based BML Group Ltd (Betsson) must repay the losses that a player suffered between 2017 and early 2021.
In line with similar rulings, the court found that Dutch civil law was applicable and that the prohibition on online gambling rendered the contractual agreement between player and operator null and void.
Comments