The Dutch Online Gambling Association (NOGA) and the Licensed Dutch Online Gaming Providers (VNLOK) have launched the “Meld Vals Spel” (Report Cheating Hotline) to combat illegal online gambling practices.

This hotline has been set up to allow members of VNLOK and NOGA, other licensees, partner organisations and other professional stakeholders to report. At www.meldvalsspel.nl they can report unsafe practices of illegal gambling sites or apps, such as the fact that players are not protected, excessive bonuses are offered and minors are not excluded.

By collecting reports, Meld Vals Spel aims to gain a better understanding of the working methods of illegal parties. This contributes to a more effective approach to illegality and the protection of vulnerable players. The aim of Meld Vals Spel is not only to warn against the risks of playing at illegal gambling sites or apps, but also to ensure that illegal practices are dealt with severely. For example, by bringing illegal practices to the attention of the Gaming Authority (KSA), politics or social media platforms. In this way, the Reporting Point complements the efforts of the KSA.

Meld Vals Spel is an initiative of licensed providers. On www.meldvalsspel.nl, members of VNLOK and NOGA, other licensees, partner organisations and other professional stakeholders can easily report unsafe practices of illegal gambling sites or apps. A report can be a reason to conduct further investigation or to collect more signals that better visualize illegal practices. A report can also be a reason to inform the KSA.

For over three years, Dutch consumers have been able to legally participate in online gambling with providers that have been granted a license by the supervisory authority, KSA. These providers must meet strict legal requirements so that consumers can choose an attractive online gaming offer in a safe environment.

Helma Lodders, chairwoman of VNLOK and Eric Konings, acting director of NOGA: “Licensed providers of online gambling have a joint responsibility to offer players a legal, safe and responsible offer. This often goes well, but can also be improved. We work hard on this every day. At the same time, many Dutch people still come into contact with illegal gambling sites and apps. These illegal parties actively respond to the increasingly strict Dutch regulations by, for example, advertising on search terms such as ‘playing without limits’ or ‘playing without cruks’. In doing so, they specifically attract (vulnerable) players. These types of illegal practices endanger the safety of players and must be tackled firmly.”

Gambling operators in the UK face a tax of as much as 1.1% of profits on some types of games as the government seeks £100 million ($126 million) a year to invest in harm reduction and research.

The planned statutory levy on all licensed operators will range from 0.1% to 1.1% of the gross gambling yield, depending on the sector and nature of the gambling, according to a statement Wednesday from the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

The UK has over the last few years introduced stricter regulation of gambling, including requiring operators to reduce the intensity of online games, carry out financial vulnerability checks of players and provide customers with better control over the types of marketing they receive. Many of the measures were announced under a Conservative government, which lost to the Labour Party in July’s General Election.

The government will review the charge within five years of its introduction, with the first formal review expected by 2030, according to the statement.

UK gambling stocks soared last month after UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget did not include much-speculated tax hikes on the sector.

The statutory levy is a separate initiative, proposed under the Conservative government in a 2023 white paper on gambling reform.

The announcement was welcomed by anti-gambling campaigner Matt Zarb-Cousin, who said that he was “really pleased” that it is being introduced. “It will totally transform the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harm,” Zarb-Cousin said.

The four biggest gambling operators – Entain Plc, Flutter Entertainment Plc, William Hill-owner Evoke Plc and Bet365 – previously pledged to pay 1% of their gross gambling yield to an industry-funded charity GambleAware in anticipation of the levy.

In the year ending in March, the charity said it received donations of £49.5 million, £46.6 million of which came from the top four operators.

“This represents a significant step towards protecting people from gambling harm. The levy is also a crucial step towards ensuring continued support through a statutory system and is something we have been calling for since 2017,” GambleAware CEO Zoë Osmond said of the plans in a statement.

The Betting and Gaming Council, which lobbies for the industry, said that it supports plans for the levy outlined in last year’s proposal.

“Ministers must not lose sight of the fact the vast majority of the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls and online do so safely,” Betting and Gaming Council Chief Executive Officer Grainne Hurst said in a statement.

Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, today announced that Christian Erlandson has been appointed as Chair of the board. Effective immediately, Erlandson succeeds Gehan Talwatte, who served as Chair for the past two years. He brings a wealth of experience in executive leadership, strategy and innovation, making him a valuable addition to the company as it continues to pursue growth and long-term success.

“I am honoured to join Vixio as Chair and excited to contribute to the company’s continued success and growth,” said Christian Erlandson. “Vixio’s commitment to the RegTech space, combined with its innovative AI-driven platform that enhances data insights and streamlines workflows, positions the company as a leader in regulatory intelligence. I look forward to helping steer Vixio through this exciting period of innovation and expansion, delivering impactful solutions for our customers, future customers, and employees alike.”

Christian Erlandson brings over 30 years of senior leadership experience in the data and analytics sector, with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. He has played key roles in high-growth companies and held prominent leadership positions, including CEO of Dun & Bradstreet UK, Managing Director at Thomson Reuters, Chief Commercial Officer at GfK, and CEO of Automotive Transformation Group. Throughout his career, Christian has led successful digital transformations, spearheaded product development initiatives, built high-performing teams, and leveraged data-driven insights to deliver exceptional results for clients.

Erlandson continues to serve as an advisor to Spotlio and currently holds the position of CEO at TNW (a Financial Times Company), reporting to the Financial Times Board. As a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO, Christian has a proven track record of driving transformational change in both scale-ups and well-established blue-chip organisations.

“We are delighted to welcome Christian to Vixio, and extend a heartfelt thanks to Gehan for his invaluable contributions to support Vixio’s expansion over the past two years,” says Mike Woolfrey, CEO Vixio. “Christian’s extensive leadership experience, strategic vision, and commitment to fostering innovation will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position as a leader in the RegTech market.”

Vixio was acquired in December 2022 by Perwyn, a European private equity investor, to enhance and increase the product offering and geographic coverage whilst maintaining and enhancing its leading reputation as the go to provider for regulatory intelligence in both the payments and gambling market. In his new role as Chair at Vixio, Erlandson’s industry experience and leadership will support Vixio’s continued growth in the payments and space with new products being brought to market to deepen its existing portfolio, as well as its expansion into the wider financial services industry and into new territories.

“Christian’s exceptional track record of driving growth and delivering value to stakeholders makes him the perfect leader to guide Vixio into its next phase of success,” says Gurinder Sunner, Partner at Perwyn. “We are confident his leadership will strategically position the company for continued growth in payments and gambling, as well as long-term success as we expand further into financial services. I look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead under his chairship.”

Christian’s appointment comes at the perfect time as the business cements its position as an award-winning leader in the RegTech space.