Industry News
Sentences up to 2 years in Dutch money laundering case
Suspects Stijn F., Maurice G. and Michel G. assumed they were operating in a ‘gray market’ with their online gambling enterprise. However, after a lengthy 4-year criminal investigation by the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service, they are now sentenced to up to 2 years in prison.
Stijn F. and brothers Maurice and Michel G. were found guilty of laundering money derived from their illegal online casinos. They were also found guilty of leading a criminal organization.
There were 27 suspects in this case, with Stijn, Maurice and Michel being the main suspects. The court regards the group as a criminal organization, breaking the law on games of chance for many years in a row. Main suspect Stijn F. does not agree and voiced his opinion in ‘Het Financieele Dagblad’ (Dutch economic newspaper): “I did not do anything illegal. It is arbitrariness. The Public Prosecution Service now prosecutes us, while the Netherlands Gaming Authority (NGA) does not take any action against dozens of online casinos”.
The three main suspects earned over 100 million euro through 7 illegal online casinos between 2007 and 2013. The Public Prosecution Service estimated that a profit of around 50 million euro was made during this period. The money was consequently intricately channeled away and laundered. The online casinos owned by the suspects were hosted in Costa Rica, the country of choice for many online casino operators.
Back in 2011, Stijn, Maurice and Michel were still on Quote Magazine’s list of ‘Young, self-made millionaires’. One year later, the Ministry of Security and Justice started compiling a list of online casinos that met all their conditions and therefore would be tolerated. These casinos wouldn’t have to worry about being prosecuted. Amsterdamscasino.com, one of the online casinos owned by Stijn F, was also on this list. Another year later, in November 2013, the suspects’ online gambling empire started to crumble: after a large police raid, amsterdamscasino.com and fruitluck.com, among other websites, got pulled offline. Authorities also seized over 100 bank accounts and 80 buildings.
With the websites offline, the suspects missed out on tens of millions of euros in profit. After the court suspended the case for an undetermined period of time, Stijn F. saw his chance to file a claim against the State. A 75-million-euro claim, compensation for the 4-year long criminal investigation by the Public Prosecution Service. According to Stijn F., the Public Prosecution Service caused the bankruptcy of his enterprise Bubble Group. Bubble Group developed online gambling games, and acted under different trade names, among which Sheriff Gaming. Also, Stijn F. claimed to have a letter from the NGA proving that his websites were tolerated, according to the list compiled by the Ministry of Security and Justice. The letter states: ‘The board will follow their own guidelines, pointing out NGA’s responsibility and the priorities to be set. Providers on the ‘gray list’, given that they comply to the set conditions, will not be prosecuted. Click here to download the complete letter.
It took the court of Den Bosch no less than 24 days in session to finally sentence the three main suspects to up to 24 months in prison. Besides that, each of the three main suspects must pay a 100.000 euro fine. The Public Prosecution Service had also demanded a 2-year prison sentence for lawyer Annette M. The court however deemed that she had remained within the bounds of her profession and was found not guilty. Several financial advisors did get convicted for large-scale money laundering and forgery. Besides professional bans of 3 years, the advisors were also sentenced to carry out community service.
Source: gratisgokken.nl
Industry News
LiveScore Group Announces Internal Restructuring as Part of Sustainable Growth Strategy
LiveScore Group has announced an internal restructuring process, expected to impact more than 100 existing roles across multiple business locations, including London.
The changes are seen as a difficult yet important step for LiveScore Group, streamlining the business to create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth. All impacted employees have been informed and are now subject to a confidential consultation process.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “On behalf of all Directors of LiveScore Group, and the relevant subsidiary companies, we are saddened by the difficult decision to commence an internal restructure of the business, a process which impacts a significant number of our people.
“Whilst we celebrate our recent period of significant and exciting growth, we must now future-proof the organisation and ensure our internal structures allow us to achieve long-term and sustainable success.
“This is a hard time for all our people, as we say goodbye to colleagues who have played an important role in our journey across recent years.”
The announcement follows on from the recent news that LiveScore Malta Limited (part of LiveScore Group) is to withdraw its LiveScore Bet brand from the Netherlands following recent government tax increases in the market. The announcement includes those impacted by this. There will be no other customer impact in respect of any of the remaining LiveScore, LiveScore Bet or Virgin Bet sites globally.
Industry News
Pronet Gaming Appoints Alex Karaoulis as its New Commercial & Product Strategy Lead
Pronet Gaming, an award-winning platform provider of full turnkey solutions, announced the appointment of Alexandros Karaoulis as its new Commercial & Product Strategy Lead.
With over 14 years of experience in the iGaming industry, Karaoulis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives forward.
Throughout his iGaming career, Karaoulis has held various senior roles with B2B sportsbook and casino providers, as well as with B2C operators. His extensive background in marketing and sales within the iGaming sector positions him as a true industry expert, ensuring that Pronet Gaming remains at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving market.
“I am thrilled to join Pronet Gaming and excited to fulfill my role in developing and executing sales strategies to drive the company’s revenue growth in key markets,” Karaoulis said.
With a track record in commercial strategies and driving product excellence, Karaoulis’ appointment is invaluable as Pronet Gaming now seeks to expand its footprint to Asia. His vision and deep understanding of the iGaming landscape equip him to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that the dynamic region presents.
“I want Pronet Gaming to lead the iGaming revolution by providing innovative, culturally tailored solutions that cater to the diverse and rapidly growing demands of the region. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of local markets, we aim to empower operators to offer world-class gaming experiences that engage players and drive sustainable growth,” he added.
According to Karaoulis, Pronet Gaming is poised to make a splash in Asia by leveraging its advanced technology, flexible platform solutions and deep market expertise while adapting to the unique characteristics of the region.
“The key differentiation point of Pronet Gaming is that we have B2C experience, which greatly aids in understanding the needs of operators and helping them to improve and execute their strategy according to the market. I have worked in B2C roles for more than seven years in my iGaming Career and managed campaigns across various channels, optimised conversion funnels, and learned to use data to improve player acquisition and retention,” said Karaoulis.
Karaoulis acknowledges that the marketing skills he has acquired from B2C experience are valuable in every B2B environment. As he dives into his new role at Pronet Gaming, Karaoulis aims to guide his operator clients on how to better market their own sites, including providing them with advice on effective acquisition strategies, content marketing and campaign structures that appeal to iGaming audiences.
“I also focus heavily on engagement strategies, loyalty programs, bonuses, and personalised offers to keep players active and returning. In my new B2B role, I will advise clients on best practices for player engagement, helping them adopt effective loyalty programs, personalised marketing, and retention tactics that drive player lifetime value to improve the end-player experience for our clients’ sites,” Karaoulis added.
Industry News
Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024
Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.
This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.
Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”
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