On 30 September, Kindred Group communicated to temporarily cease services for Dutch residents due to policy changes in the Netherlands. Kindred has today taken the decision to keep its services closed to Dutch residents until a licence is awarded by the Dutch regulator (KSA).

Kindred Group plc (Kindred) has taken the decision that its services will remain closed to Dutch residents until a licence is awarded to service the Dutch market under the Dutch Remote Gambling Act. Kindred is prepared to submit a license application later in Q4 2021. Subject to the license review process, Kindred looks forward to be awarded an NL license in Q2 2022.

This is in line with the communication on 30 September that Kindred would cease services for Dutch residents on a temporary basis due to recent policy changes communicated by the Dutch Minister for Legal Protection on 20 September.

Kindred is prepared for the Dutch licensing process under the Remote Gambling Act, and has been working on the preparations for a Dutch licence application including successful completion of the required external audit.

Crown Resorts has been found unsuitable to operate Crown Melbourne, but the company will retain its licence, and will be subject to stricter oversight.

Victoria’s Royal Commission into Crown has found the operator unsuitable to continue to hold the licence under the Casino Control Act, and an unsuitable associate of Crown Melbourne.

But Commissioner Ray Finkelstein has opted against immediate cancellation of the licence, and has instead recommended the revision of the Casino Control Act to create the position of a Special Manager, who will have the power to oversee the affairs of a casino operator who has been found to be unsuitable.

The Special Manager for Crown will be in place for two years while the operator “attempts to undertake a comprehensive reform agenda to make it suitable.”

The Finkelstein Report opened with the conclusive statement: “The Royal Commission finds Crown is unsuitable to hold a casino licence on the basis that it has engaged in conduct that is ‘illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative.’ The Royal Commission notes that the scale of the wrongdoing is so widespread and egregious that ‘no other finding was open.’”

The operator was also found guilty of “grave, ongoing legal breaches and misconduct that contravened not only Australian laws but the laws of other countries often with the knowledge of Crown executives.”

The Victorian Government has accepted all of the Royal Commission’s findings, but added that “in implementing the priority recommendations, we are also going further in a number of areas.” It is introducing “tough new measures and stringent oversight of the casino operator” in order to ensure such failures do not happen again.

Crown has released a statement saying it is currently reviewing the Report and the Victorian Government’s response, and that it will work “cooperatively and constructively” with the Victorian Government in relation to the findings and recommendations.

AvatarUX has entered into a licensing agreement with Stakelogic that will see the supplier get exclusive rights to the popular PopWins™ mechanic.

The deal, including 6 months exclusivity period, will see Stakelogic incorporate the unique PopWins™ mechanic into its own games, with two titles already confirmed- MysteryDrop™ and their new title JokerDrop™.

AvatarUX’s thrilling PopWins™ mechanic has gained fans worldwide and sees winning symbols ‘pop’ and two more take their place, with reels expanding both in base game and free spins, creating an enhanced win potential for players.

The mechanic has been incorporated in eight AvatarUX titles which has been hugely successful, including player favourite CherryPop™ and TikiPop™, as well as their latest game PiggyPop™, planned for a global release on the 29^th November.

Marcus Honney, Managing Director at AvatarUX, said: “Our PopWins™ collection has been a great success for us and the games are performing extremely well with players, so we are thrilled to give the trademark rights to Stakelogic. We are certain Stakelogic’s titles featuring the mechanic will be huge hits with operators and players alike.”

Olga Bajela, CCO at Stakelogic, said: “We pride ourselves in offering our operator partners cutting-edge products and with the PopWins™ mechanic, we can further enhance our offering.

“Everyone who loves slots knows that the PopWins™ collection is innovative and unique and we are excited to offer it to our partners via our own games.”