Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Consultant at Quod Bonum Consulting & former Managing Director of the Netherland Online Gambling Association The call “Let’s reclaim the market” goes to the heart of the matter: when the illegal market grows, everyone else loses, and gamblers especially so. During the opening of last year's Gaming in Germany Conference, the so-called “grey market” was re-labelled for what it really is: an ecosystem in which illegal operators and organised crime c

Gaming in Europe (Gaming in Holland, Gaming in Germany, Gaming in Spain & more) will return in 2026 with several noteworthy events.    Over the years, Gaming in Europe has developed an outstanding reputation across the continent offering knowledge & networking to decision makers in European regulated gambling markets.    At the end of 2025, Gaming in Europe launched its new mission statement “Let’s reclaim the market” across all its brands, highlighting the importance of the

With Finland's iGaming re-regulation now firmly on the horizon, Gaming in Europe (Gaming in Holland, Gaming in Spain, Gaming in Germany) will be launching its latest initiative, Gaming in Finland, at ICE Barcelona 2026. Gaming in Finland will kick off with an evening conference in Barcelona on January 19, 2026 , from 18:00 until 22:00 . The event, which is being organized in close collaboration with local stakeholders, will feature networking, tapas and drinks, as well as sev

Gaming in Holland interviews Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair Michel Groothuizen   Just before the end of 2025, we managed to sit down with Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair Michel Groothuizen for a wide-ranging interview [link] on the latest developments in the Dutch gambling market, including black-market growth, player protection, and more.    The interview also covers, among other things, the Gambling Authority's new “Disconnect” and “Duty of Care” programs, the i

Four years after the opening of the regulated Dutch online market, players in the legal market appear to be better protected than ever. The growth of the black market, however, introduces new risks, as well as new challenges for the regulator. We sat down with Michel Groothuizen, Chair of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, to discuss the latest developments in the Dutch gambling market, including black-market growth, player protection, and more.   

Save the date: GiH post-election webinar Join us on Thursday October 30 , at 15:00 CET  for a Gaming in Holland webinar in which we will be discussing the outcome of the Netherlands’ Lower House elections the day prior. How will the new balance of political power impact the Dutch gambling industry? Join our webinar to find out! More information will be announced soon. Save the date! KVA announces information sharing agreement with Dutch regulator KVA, the Dutch quality mark f

Dutch industry associations shine light on illegal market practices Trade association VNLOK and affiliate marketing quality mark KVA have been highlighting various practices by illegal gambling operators to attract (sometimes unsuspecting) players. In November 2024, VNLOK opened a consumer hotline for reporting instances of illegal gambling. Since then, VNLOK has received 238 individual reports, highlighting two concerning trends . First, the systematic manipulation of review

Netherlands Gambling Authority issues new guidance on duty of care to land-based operators The Netherlands Gambling Authority has provided casino and gaming arcade operators with updated guidance  on how to implement their duty of care obligations. The new guidance focuses on five key areas: 1.         Addiction prevention policies 2.         Mandatory player education 3.         Access control and ID verification 4.         Monitoring playing behavior 5.         Intervention

Netherlands Gambling Authority imposes penalty payment orders on CasinoScout owners The Netherlands Gambling Authority has imposed conditional penalty payment orders  on three companies for promoting illegal online casinos via the CasinoScout website. All three co-owners of the affiliate website now face a potential penalty of up to €225,000. Previously, CasinoScout only promoted licensed websites in the Netherlands. However, after an ownership change in January 2025, the web

ComeOn acquires second Dutch remote license Malta-based Godwits Limited, part of the ComeOn Group, has recently acquired  a Dutch remote license that allows the company to offer both online betting and casino in the Netherlands. As ComeOne Group is already active in the Dutch market under its main ComeOn label, it appears that the operator has plans to launch a second brand in the Netherlands. Registration for the 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference now open! The 2025 Gaming in

Dutch sports sponsorship ban enters into force From 1 July 2025, sponsorship agreements between online gambling operators and athletes, teams, competitions, shirts and other promotional materials will no longer be permitted in the Netherlands. This marks the end of a two-year transitional period following the general 2023 ban on non-targeted online gambling advertising. Land-based operators and brands are excluded from the ban. VIDEO | All 2025 Gaming in Holland Conference se

Happy New Year! Wishing all the best to you as we head into 2025. Netherlands’ leading gambling lawyers launch new firm The Netherlands’ leading gambling lawyers Justin Franssen and Frank Tolboom have launched a new law firm, Franssen Tolboom Advocaten. The new firm is a continuation of the Gaming and Gambling Practice Group of Kalff Katz & Franssen, which firm, as a consequence of the launch of Franssen Tolboom, has been dissolved. All staff of the Gaming and Gambling Practi

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you very much for all your support throughout the year. All the best for 2025! Sharp rise in Google searches for illegal online casinos in the Netherlands Google searches for certain illegal online casinos have risen sharply in the Netherlands, CasinoNieuws reveals . Specifically, Google searches for illegal online casinos Lalabet and Jungliwin increased up to 850% during 2024. On

GiH at ICE 2025: Save the date! Although ICE has moved to Barcelona, Gaming in Holland/Gaming in Europe will continue to be present at the event. In 2025, we will host the following mini events: Gaming in Germany Breakfast January 21, 09:00 – 11:00 Speaker: Sina Rencz-Baasch, Department Head Virtual Slot Games, GGL Gaming in Holland Lunch January 21, 12:30 – 14:30 Speaker: Michel Groothuizen, Chair, Netherlands Gambling Authority Please note that places are strictly limited,

State Secretary: “Gambling tax hike could increase gambling addiction risks” Dutch State Secretary for Tax Affairs, Tjebbe van Oostenbruggen has said  in response to parliamentary questioning that the proposed increase in the gambling tax rate could lead to a rise in gambling addiction risks. Van Oostenbruggen, citing a research report  on the expected impact of the tax hike, admitted that operators will likely be forced to pass on the costs of the tax increase by enticing pl