At the end of last week, de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) announced it had imposed a €4.4 million ($4.6 million) penalty against Gammix Limited after it discovered the operator had been providing its services without a license.

The incident was not an isolated one for the regulator in the country. Since the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) went into effect in the Netherlands on April 1, 2021, and one and a half years after the grand opening of the online gambling market took place, the KSA has been busy completing similar investigations into illegal online casino providers.

In 2022 alone, according to the KSA’s fresh report, the regulator investigated a total of 277 preliminary investigations into illegal online sites. The procedures also resulted in 26 investigations into illegal online providers.

KSA Looking Back to 2022 “with Mixed Feelings”

The regulator’s chairman René Jansen spoke about 2022, which was “the first full calendar year in which online games of chance were legally offered in the Netherlands.”

Jansen expressed mixed feelings regarding the evolution of things, explaining that while a lot of things were going well, there is still much room for improvement.

The chairman also spoke about the original timeline and political goal of the Koa Act, which was aimed at seeing a minimum of eight out of ten Dutch players choosing legal providers in the first three years after the KOA would go into effect.

At the moment, according to estimates, around 85% of online players currently gamble using legal providers in the Netherlands. While this was also valid to a large extent prior to the legalization of iGaming in the country, their gaming was done illegally.

Jansen added that over 36,000 Dutch citizens have asked for and received protection from the central exclusion register Cruks. The latter does not allow registered players to take part in high-risk games of chance online and at amusements and Holland Casino venues.

KSA Issued €29.7 Million ($31.4 Million) in Fines in 2022

Throughout 2022, the KSA put in place 18 intention orders that were subject to periodic penalty payments. In total, seven fines were issued for a total of €29.7 million ($31.4 million).

The regulator also received 83 notifications in relation to illegal gambling ads on social media, marking an important 71% drop compared to 2021’s numbers. Out of the 59 investigations that took place last year, the KSA discovered 16 cases of violations.

During the same year, the KSA received 27 applications for online licenses, from 42 requests registered in 2021. Three applications were rejected and seven were withdrawn as operators understood their applications would not progress.

This led to a total of 13 online gaming licenses being granted to operators eager to offer their services on the Dutch market in 2022.

The regulator also issued 45 permits for slot machine operations last year. The KSA completed 89 investigations into slot machines. Out of them, seven were denied and 26 were completed on an interim basis with no additional consequences for their operators.

The regulator that turned 10 years in 2022 also issued close to 47% fewer lottery licenses in 2022 compared to 2021, with only 24 licenses recorded for last year.

The regulator revoked five existing licenses for reasons that the KSA license holders labeled their lottery sales as disappointing.

The regulator periodically monitors which 100 gambling sites are visited most frequently by players from the Netherlands and acts whenever deemed necessary to combat illegal gambling.

Global gaming and entertainment operator that has a presence in multiple markets such as Europe, the US and Australia, Kindred Group, released its combined Annual and Sustainability Report for the 2022 financial year. The company announced the release of the report Wednesday, highlighting key value-creation drivers as well as its long-term sustainability strategy.

The new report included case studies, facts and figures and reaffirmed Kindred’s commitment to sustainable growth via an effective strategy. The release of the whitepaper outlines the company’s long-term ambition to achieve zero percent gross winnings from problem gambling. With this initiative, Kindred leads by example.

At the same time, the company remains committed to supporting the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) which seeks to reduce the negative impact on climate. Kindred also engages in new partnerships and helps boost local communities, which is part of its ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion plan.

The Company Remains on the Path to Sustainability

In its new report, Kindred noted that it continues to follow its sustainability strategy that ultimately seeks to help the company achieve commercial success responsibly. The company highlighted its sustainability framework, saying that it “offers a constant and clear connection to our commercial strategy.”

The sustainability framework consists of four main elements. Those are responsible gambling, a secure platform, product integrity and responsible business. By combining those elements Kindred seeks to develop meaningful and long-lasting relationships with communities, colleagues and partners that are “based on trust and respect.”

“We chose a path over ten years ago to operate in locally licensed markets giving us access to local markets and providing increased stability.“

Henrik Tjärnström, CEO of Kindred

Henrik Tjärnström, Kindred’s CEO, explained that a decade ago, the company decided to operate within local markets that stand out with increased stability. He pointed out that for the fourth quarter of 2022, 81% of the company’s revenue was derived from locally regulated markets.

“While 2022 has been a challenging year, I am proud and grateful for the hard work put in by all my colleagues at Kindred and at Relax Gaming,“

added Tjärnström

Tjärnström acknowledged that last year was challenging. Still, he said that he is proud of the efforts of the dedicated experts at Kindred and Relax Gaming. Finally, Kindred’s CEO said that the company has ambitious targets set and confirmed that it will continue to execute its growth strategy.

The US gambling industry trade group, the American Gaming Association (AGA), announced Wednesday new data regarding the revenue reported by the commercial gambling sector in the country, acknowledging a strong start to the year. Judging by the new data, the US commercial gaming revenue, which includes iGaming, land-based and sports betting revenue hit $5.50 billion in January this year.

That result marked strong growth of 21.1% when compared to the total gross gaming revenue (GGR) reported for the same period in 2022. Moreover, the result this January further complements the growth observed in the last few years marking the 23rd consecutive month with a reported revenue increase.

The latest result comes after the AGA reported that 2022 was a record-setting for the commercial gaming industry. Without any doubt, the legalization and introduction of sports betting to new US states, combined with the expansion of some of the existing iGaming markets impacted positively the results. That positive impact will likely continue to be in effect throughout this year as well, keeping in mind the strong start recorded in January.

“According to revenue data reported by state regulators and compiled by the AGA, nationwide gaming industry win from traditional casino games, sports betting and iGaming reached $5.50 billion in January 2023,“

explains a statement released by the AGA

Sports Betting, iGaming GGR Soars in January

A breakdown of the $5.50 billion in total GGR for the commercial gaming sector released by the Association reveals that the revenue growth was primarily driven by sports betting and iGaming. Sports betting GGR in January this year hit $1.02 billion. This result marked the first time sports betting GGR surpasses the billion-dollar figure. When compared to the result from January last year, the $1.02 billion in sports betting GGR marked an increase of 58.2%.

On the other hand, iGaming GGR soared in January as well, increasing to $482 million when compared to the same period in 2022. That result marked a significant increase of 20.6%, impacting the overall result for the month positively.

Although iGaming and sports betting revenue increased significantly, the land-based sector performed well too. Slot GGR for January jumped by 15.5%, hitting $2.86 billion in revenue. Without any doubt, this figure reaffirmed the strong market share of slots.

Last but not least, the revenue reported by commercial table games also marked an increase. In total, table game GGR hit $838 million in January, representing an increase of 14.7% when compared to the corresponding period a year ago.

Globally recognized bookmaker and entertainment company bet365 announced a new deal with the leading free-to-play developer of games for the gambling industry, Incentive Games. Details of the partnership emerged Thursday and see the duo team up for a new free-to-play prediction game for the 2023 NCAA Championship.

To participate in the game, customers need to be at least 21 years old and the “Mega March Bracket Challenge” allows a single entry per person. Eligible customers in multiple US states, as well as New Zealand will have the option to participate in the Bracket Challenge that features a $10 million jackpot.

In the US, eligible customers from strategic markets such as New Jersey, Ohio, Colorado, Mexico and Virginia will have the option to participate in the free-to-play game. The Mega March Bracket Challenge asks sports fans and bettors alike to submit correct predictions for the 2023 NCAA Championship.

The new Bracket Challenge will offer prizes for the top 5,000 participants listed within a leaderboard based on the points their earn. The top prize from the free-to-play game is $100,000. However, if a participant manages to guess a perfect bracket, they can win up to $10,000,000.

The Game Is Expected to Deliver Exciting Experiences

A spokesperson for bet365 explained that sports fans now have a unique chance to predict the outcome of the Mega March Bracket Challenge. They spoke about the exciting opportunity to win $10 million that is presented to the customers. Finally, the spokesperson noted: “Be sure to check the bet365 leaderboard as games pass and good luck to all bet365 customers!”

“Every expert is giving their opinion, but now it’s your chance to predict the outcome of this Mega March Bracket Challenge,“

wrote a spokesperson for bet365

John Gordon, Incentive Games’ CEO and co-founder, explained that the new Bracket Challenge game will help bet365 expand further its presence in North America and at the same time reach new customers. In conclusion, he acknowledged that the new game offers a “ground-breaking UX/UI” that reaffirms the efforts of the expert teams at Incentive Games and bet365.

“This is yet another slam dunk game for bet365, to help the brand stand out and acquire new customers in North America.“

John Gordon, CEO and co-founder of Incentive Games

The latest Bracket Challenge comes after recently, bet365 announced the launch of a new virtual product in collaboration with the leading content and technology provider for the global gaming industry, Inspired Entertainment. As a result, the Multi-Stream Matchday Soccer event launched by Inspire will deliver engaging experiences for soccer fans and bettors alike.

TheScoreBet revealed its web version on Wednesday, confirming that the company is seeking to secure an edge in the highly-competitive provincial market which has seen more than 40 companies launch since the activities became legal in 2022.

TheScore Bet Debuts Web Version for Better Engagement

TheScore Bet has optimized its sportsbook to allow consumers to access odds and futures for upcoming sports games without registration. The website naturally features popular choices, such as lines, game props, player props, specials, parlays, and traditional betting markets, and theScore Bet’s website has launched on time for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Division I Basketball Championships known as March Madness.

Commenting on this launch, theScore SVP of product management Noah Levy said that the company was stoked to see the desktop version of the website roll out as a way to further help the brand establish itself in the competitive provincial market. It is about “providing another way for fans in Ontario to play with theScore Bet, browse the breadth of available markets and enjoy their favorite casino games,” he explained.

TheScore Bet has been actively trying to strengthen its offer across the board bringing a lot to the market, along with a daily jackpot, live dealer content and parlay bets that arrived in November last year. TheScore Bet is also fully dedicated to ensuring that it runs a comprehensive technological offer that allows it to be in full control of its operations, including risk and trading, player account management, and a promotional engine.

The company has been also offering extensive coverage for a number of high-profile sports events, including March Madness, NBA Playoffs, and NHL Playoffs, along with the Super Bowl, and more. The website will allow it to carry on.

In related news, theScore was named a finalist for the Best in Sports Betting by the Sports Business Journal and the publication’s Sports Business Awards. The awards are an important hallmark of excellence that theScore would be keen to secure as a further testimony of its ongoing efforts to bring worthwhile gaming and betting entertainment to all.

Casino content house Stakelogic has minted a new agreement with FeniBet, a startup iGaming operator in Latvia. Under the agreement, the supplier will provide the Latvian company with a selection of casino content.

Stakelogic’s games are famous for their lighthearted fruit themes, which give them a familiar vibe. At the same time, the titles incorporate some innovative engagement features that boost player engagement and help players increase their chances for big rewards. One such mechanic is the famous Super Stake feature that is available across many of Stakelogic’s games.

Stakelogic is also popular for the quality of the content it provides. Its titles excel in terms of graphics, sound design, gameplay and bonuses to provide players with unforgettable gambling experiences.

FeniBet will secure access to some of Stakelogic’s critically-acclaimed hits, such as Buzz, El Cowboy Megaways and Devil’s Trap. It will also be able to offer the supplier’s newly-launched Diamond Staxx Multipays game.

The deal with FeniBet will expand Stakelogic’s position in the Latvian iGaming market and will, at the same time, reinforce the operator’s offering. Thanks to the agreement, FeniBet will be able to quickly grow its portfolio and channel more customers toward its platform.

FeniBet’s head of IT, Martins Opmanis, commented on the agreement, noting that Stakelogic’s content is quickly gaining traction. By adopting its hits, FeniBet will be able to provide its customers with a variety of new titles. Opmanis is most excited about introducing the Super Stake feature to its players.

Stakelogic is rapidly gaining popularity, and we want our customers to enjoy its classic and modern video slots. We look forward to introducing Stakelogic flagship Super Stake feature to elevate our players’ experience on FeniBet.

Martins Opmanis, head of IT, FeniBet

Meanwhile, Danila Dzehs, Stakelogic’s senior sales manager, lauded FeniBet as a top-tier operator in Latvia. Dzehs pointed out that the new deal will expand Stakelogic’s global footprint while elevating gaming experiences for Latvian customers.

FeniBet is a top-tier operator in Latvia and this partnership further establishes Stakelogic as a leading content provider. Our games are proven in Latvia and will allow the operator to elevate the experience it offers to players.

Danila Dzehs, senior sales manager, FeniBet

The deal with FeniBet is but the latest in a string of content deals. Stakelogic just penned another deal with Fonbet, agreeing to supply content in Greece. Prior to that, the content house entered Belgium thanks to an agreement with PepperMill Casino. In Early March, the company also consolidated its presence in the Dutch market via an arrangement with 711.