A new report by the European Commission has found that an industry-led memorandum of understanding (MoU) on online advertising and intellectual property rights has led to a significant reduction in the unintentional placement of advertising from Europe’s major gambling brands on websites which infringe upon intellectual property rights.

The MoU, published in 2018, was established to limit advertising on websites, such as illegal sports streaming sites, and mobile applications that infringe copyright or disseminate counterfeit goods.

As part of its review of the effectiveness of the MoU, the Commission has presented a new report today which found that the MoU has created more awareness among brands that their advertising may end up on IPR-infringing websites. According to the report, the share of total advertising for European businesses on IPR-infringing websites was reduced by 12% since the introduction of the MoU, while gambling advertising from Europe’s major brands (including all EGBA members) decreased by 20%, from 62% to 50% during the reporting period.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomes the report’s conclusions and is pleased with the significant progress made by EGBA members and other major brands in reducing the unintentional placement of their advertising on IPR-infringing advertising channels.

“EGBA welcomes the progress made by EGBA members and other major gambling brands in significantly reducing the unintentional placement of their advertising on IPR-infringing websites and is pleased that major online gambling companies are playing a central role in EU efforts to crack down on IPR infringement. Most reputable companies do not intend to advertise on IPR-infringing websites, but it happens and is difficult to control, and EGBA acknowledges that remedial action is needed to prevent it. That is why we have been actively engaging with the European Commission and other stakeholders to take action and are pleased those efforts are beginning to bear fruit,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary-General of EGBA, said.

“EGBA is committed to promoting responsibility and driving standards in Europe’s online gambling sector and we encourage other companies to join us – and be part of the solution, not the problem – by adhering to responsibility initiatives such as the MoU. This initiative proves that greater cooperation at EU-level can benefit the sector and how it is able to respond to the challenges it faces, including on advertising,” Maarten Haijer added.

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Any online gambling operator applying for a license in the Netherlands must show almost three years’ worth of good behaviour before their applications will be considered by the local regulators.

Rene Jansen, the chairperson of the Kansspelautoriteit, made this known during a keynote address at a conference in Amsterdam.

Rene Jansen said that the country’s count down to the Remote Gambling Act has begun, and it is expected to take effect on March 1, next year. After this date, all licensees will, in every likelihood, start submitting applications. The regulated market will be rolled out almost six months after that.

Jansen noted that the regulator had transferred operational control of the Central Exclusion Register to the Netcompany, its managing partner. The country’s associated Data Safe, the one that each operator must connect to so that the regulator can also check their vigilance on customer activity, will notify the EC.

This coming October, the regulator will also bring in new responsible gambling measures. In November, it will issue concrete details regarding the license application process.

Reflex Gaming, the UK-based omni-channel studio, has become the latest firm to join Stakelogic’s Greenlogic Programme, gaining access to 500+ operators and nine aggregators.

By joining Greenlogic, Reflex Gaming will be able to create a series of slots in partnership with Stakelogic. Reflex will take responsibility for aspects such as game concepts, maths, gameplay and assets while Stakelogic will cover more technical areas. Games will launch under the Stakelogic brand but with Reflex named as a development partner.

“We are thrilled to welcome Reflex Gaming to our Greenlogic Program and to work closely with the team on a series of exciting slot games that we will then integrate with our operators and aggregators. Reflex Gaming has built a great reputation for designing hugely entertaining omni-channel games and we look forward to being able to combine this with our own market-leading approach to game development to create a run of blockbuster titles,” Stephan van den Oetelaar, CEO of Stakelogic, said.

“Online distribution can be tough but by joining the Greenlogic Program we are able to take advantage of Stakelogic’s incredible network of operators and aggregator partners and put our name and games in front of more players than ever before. We are delighted to be able to create games in partnership with Stakelogic and to combine our individual strengths to develop a series of slots that we believe will provide players with an unrivaled experience they will come back to again and again,” Mat Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming, said.