Netherlands Gambling Authority shares findings on behavioral influence tactics of licensed operators ...and more!

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 platforms such as Google or Trustpilot to legitimize illegal offerings; and second, the hijacking of (expired) internet domains, including former government websites, to promote illegal offers.

VNLOK Chair Björn Fuchs commented: “We are seeing highly sophisticated approaches to illegal gambling sites masquerading as trustworthy operators. This makes it nearly impossible for consumers to tell the difference between legal and illegal offerings. That is why it's crucial that these reports are followed up quickly and that illegal providers are dealt with more rigorously.”

Relatedly, affiliate marketing quality mark KVA recently reported how minors and young adults are actively encouraged to gamble in closed Discord or Telegram groups. Gambling influencers who are active on platforms such as TikTok, Kick, YouTube, and Instagram also play an important role in promoting illegal gambling offers to vulnerable consumers.

KVA's findings show that black-market gambling operators are actively (and increasingly) targeting young people in the Netherlands.

Netherlands Gambling Authority launches new consumer information platform

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has launched a new consumer information platform “Open over Gokken” to replace “Loket Kansspel.”

While Loket Kansspel was primarily aimed at people who, directly or indirectly, were being affected by gambling-related problems, Open over Gokken is also aimed at a more general audience, including recreational players. The website seeks to fulfill a more preventative role in addition to being an informational hub for those suffering from gambling-related harm.

Swedish regulator fines software providers for supplying content to illegal operators

The Swedish Gambling Authority has issued fines and warnings to three gaming software suppliers for breaching licensing requirements by providing content to unlicensed operators.

Quickspin AB, a Swedish studio owned by Playtech, received the heaviest penalty: a SEK650,000 (€58,800) fine and a formal warning.

The regulator found that Quickspin’s titles had been made available on unlicensed websites through third-party content partners.

Two other game suppliers, Kalamba and EGT Digital, received smaller fines.

Since 2023, software suppliers have been required to hold a license, and they may not provide software to any operator targeting the Swedish market without proper authorization.

Allwyn acquires $1.6bn majority stake in US daily fantasy provider

Lottery giant Allwyn has reached an agreement to acquire a 62.3% majority stake in US fantasy sports operator PrizePicks for $1.6bn.

The transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of 2026, gives Allwyn a strong foothold in the fast-growing daily fantasy sports segment and positions PrizePicks as its primary platform for US expansion.

The acquisition marks a significant step in Allwyn's strategy to expand beyond traditional lottery operations and bolster its presence in the US gaming market.

Romanian operator Superbet pays out €30m after technical glitch

Leading Romanian betting operator Superbet has confirmed that it paid out more than €30 million after a technical incident led to oversized winnings for thousands of players.

Despite the technical malfunction, Superbet decided to honor the affected payments, framing the decision as a matter of trust and reputation.

Game supplier Playtech denied any connection between its software and the incident.

Upcoming events

• This year's Sustainable Gambling Conference takes place on November 18, 2025, in Brussels. The event brings together researchers and industry leaders to explore how collective action can shape a safer and more sustainable future for gambling.

• Registration for ICE Barcelona, which takes place January 19-21, 2026, is now open! The highly successful 2025 edition of the event not only welcomed a record number of visitors but also generated €191m for Barcelona's and Catalonia's economies.

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Netherlands Gambling Authority shares findings on behavioral influence tactics of licensed operators

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has published a study that investigated the techniques used by licensed online gambling operators to influence players.

Although operators offer feedback on player behavior to maintain safer gambling habits, operators have also been found to be reinforcing negative play by enticing players to increase their deposit limits or wager more frequently.

According to the research report, this frequently seen operator behavior violates the spirit of existing player protection regulations which are built around players staying within their personal, deliberately set limits.

Netherlands Gambling Authority Chair, Michel Groothuizen said: “We understand that online operators, like other commercial enterprises, monitor user behavior to influence this behavior to their advantage. Thanks to this study, we have a better understanding of how operators do this. This allows us to provide more direction in the areas of negative play reinforcement and other things we no longer want to see.”