Gaming In Holland News-August 2017

The latest in Dutch and international gaming news.

Netherlands Gaming Authority Issues Cease and Desist Order to Catena Media
Yesterday, the Netherlands Gaming Authority announced that it has issued a cease and desist order to Malta-based iGaming lead generation company Catena Media.

The regulator found that Catena Media was actively promoting the services of online gaming operators, including ComeOn, to a Dutch audience through various websites, such as netentcasino.nl, gokoverzicht.com, and spellenoverzicht.com.

The Gaming Authority further decided to impose a daily penalty payment of €1500, up to a maximum of €21,000, if Catena Media would fail to comply with its cease and desist order.

As of now, the aforementioned websites appear to be no longer accessible from the Netherlands.

Europe Generates Almost 50% of All Online & Mobile Gambling Revenue
When it comes to online and mobile gambling, Europe is way ahead of other geographic regions, the Financial Times outlined on Saturday. UK operators have benefited most:

“Firms based in the UK have long benefited from not being as tightly regulated as elsewhere in the world. In some countries, such as China and India, bans on online gambling have pushed the practice underground, creating multibillion-dollar black markets for wagers. Other major markets, such as Germany, enforce strict restrictions.”

In the same FT article, Paddy Power Betfair’s outgoing CEO Breon Corcoran remarked that his company has no intention to re-enter grey markets (such as – currently – the Netherlands). “Ultimately, there is a question about sustainability in grey markets,” Corcoran said.

Updated Swedish Gaming Legislation Could Take Effect in 2019
“A new framework for the gaming industry in Sweden has been introduced and it could soon end the iGaming monopoly under the control of Svenska Spel. The updated legislation could take effect by 2019 modifying the current regime, although legislators are set to carry out further debates on the issue,” Focus Gaming News reports.

Former Swedish gambling regulator, Hakan Hallstedt, has recommended that online gambling operators pay an 18% tax on their gross gaming revenue. An estimated 90% percent of the Swedish online market would then be licensed and generating taxes from gambling.

Janshen-Hahnraths Group Posts 4.4% Increase in Revenues in 2016
The Janshen-Hahnraths Group, owner of 42 Fair Play arcade halls in the Netherlands, announced yesterday that its annual revenues increased 4.4% to €77m. Earnings before taxes amounted to €1.7m.

In order to safeguard its position in a Dutch market that is expected to go through some major changes, including the opening of the online market and the privatization of Holland Casino, the group made significant investments in the development of an online presence, as well as more frequent and generous jackpot payouts.

“We are happy with our financial results,” Janshen-Hahnraths’ CEO Jan Schiffelers said. “Last year’s lower profits are the result of a deliberate strategic choice to prioritize investments that are vital to the long-term viability of the Group. Moreover, we have opted to to draw the necessary funds from our cash flow, rather than external financing.”

Other News
Despite strict enforcement by the Netherlands Gaming Authority, online casino operators still find ways to advertise their services to a Dutch audience.

Holland Casino has released an official video to announce the World Series of Poker’s circuit stop in Rotterdam.

Holland Casino is looking to hire a financial accountant.

The Sportech Racing and Digital division of Sportech, holder of the single Dutch tote betting license, has agreed to provide pari-mutuel betting technologies and services to Dansk Hestevæddeløb ApS (DHV), the joint operating company for horseracing and operator of all racecourses in Denmark.

US casinos are warning that they are not sufficiently marijuana friendly.

The global lottery sector got off to a “modest start” in 2017, with reporting lotteries eking out a first-quarter on first-quarter aggregate increase in sales of 0.9%, new data from the World Lottery Association (WLA) indicates.

The Malta Gaming Authority is aiming to roll out a regulatory framework for blockchain technology by Q1 2018.

Portugal has announced the issuance of its eighth online gambling license to Estoril Sol to offer online sports betting services. The operator was already in possession of a Portuguese online casino license.

PokerStars parent company The Stars Group reported a 7.9% constant currency rise in Q2 revenues to $303.5m, with soaring casino revenues overcoming a significant decline in poker revenues. Revenue diversification reached a significant milestone last quarter, with non-poker revenue representing one-third of the company’s total revenue for the first time.

Shortly after Google opted to drop a long-standing ban on gambling and betting apps in its app store, Sporting Index has become the first company to launch a sports spread betting mobile application on Google Play.

Targeting hundreds of millions of Metal fans worldwide and having already partnered with some of the genre’s major stars, Metal Casino is to launch the world’s first gaming site for hard rock enthusiasts.

Paysafe, which owns Skrill, Neteller and Paysafecard, reported revenues of $538.7m (€458.5m) in the first half of this year, up 11% from $486.7m in the opening six months of last year.

Betsafe has signed UFC star Conor McGregor as an EU ambassador, ahead of the Irishman’s upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather.

Slot machine maker Aristocrat Leisure has acquired Israeli social gaming company Plarium Global Ltd, reinforcing the Australian company’s status as a technology business.

Maine has become the 15th US state to legalize paid-for daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests.

A lucky punter in Las Vegas took home an $11.8m slot machine jackpot after wagering a mere $3.