Dutch Regulator Calls for Tougher Ad Restrictions in Parliamentary Recommendations
On March 19 local industry stakeholders in the Netherlands presented to Dutch parliament their recommendations for the pending gambling act reform. During the session, the regulator proposed a widespread ban on gambling ads.
The full-day session saw presentations made by the regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), monopoly operator Holland Casino, addiction specialists Verslavingskunde Nederland and various other trade bodies and operators.
An updated gambling act is expected to hit parliament by the end of the year. This follows a lengthy review of the current regulations, which came into effect in 2021.
KSA proposed a new model for gambling products based on their risk profile. In this case higher-risk products would face stricter advertising rules.
The regulator said in its recommendation the current rules around advertising were “fragmented and complicated,” as they were established in response to an influx of gambling ads once the market had already launched.
Meanwhile on tax, licensed operator Circus.nl said the upcoming tax increase to 37.8 percent of GGR would only serve to increase black market activity and urged the government to consider a flat tax rate of 29 percent for licensed operators.
International Gaming Standards Body Preparing AI Guidelines
The International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) is developing an AI best practices framework to help gambling regulators understand the technology and its uses within the sector.
Speaking to iGB this week, IGSA President Mark Pace said AI was the group’s main technology focus currently. Founded in 1998, IGSA develops standards and best practices for suppliers, operators and regulators across a variety of topics.
IGSA is already in communication with several regulators about the use of AI and how best to approach the sector’s rapidly growing adoption of the technology from a regulatory perspective. So far it has shared eight best practices for AI use with these regulatory bodies and requested their input.
Pace told regulators they shouldn’t aim for a developer level of understanding it. “What you need to focus on are things like, ‘What data are you going to let the AI algorithms consume? What is the accuracy level of the data? Does the data already have an inherent bias in it?’
“I talk to regulators that tell me they have tried to understand how AI algorithms have been developed. They’re trying to do a deep dive into AI, and I tell them, ‘You’re wasting your time’,” Pace said.
Lords Veto Gambling Sponsorship Ban in Latest Football Governance Bill Debate
An amendment to ban gambling sponsorships and advertising in English football has been vetoed in the latest Lords debate on the U.K.’s pending Football Governance bill.
On March 17, the House of Lords voted against the amendment via a clear majority of 339 to 74. It was raised in the latest version of the Football Governance bill, which this week finished being debated in the chamber.
The bill, which was initially introduced via the House of Lords in October, aims to create an independent football regulator to oversee the sport and handle issues such as club licensing.
It passed the committee and report stages in early March, and the second iteration of the bill has been debated in the house over the last two weeks.
The clause seeking to ban all gambling sponsorships and advertising in the sport was put forward by Liberal Democrat politician Lord Addington in the latest round of amendments.
Next, the bill will move into the House of Commons for first and second readings before hitting the committee and report stages and a third reading. From there, final amendments will be considered, and it will face a final vote in the commons.
Kenny Alexander Has “No Plans” to Return to Gaming Sector
In an interview with BettingJobs at Cheltenham festival on March 13, former GVC Holdings (Entain) CEO Kenny Alexander said he would not return to the gaming sector after 24 years in various roles.
“I’ve been there, done that – spent a lot of time traveling, being in London and all the rest. So, I decided to retire early,” he told the recruitment and consulting agency.
“I’m leaving it to others to carry it on. That said, it’s a fantastic industry. I’d recommend it to anyone. I had an incredible time and don’t regret a thing, but it’s behind me now and I’m happy to let others take the reins.”
Alexander joined the sector in 2000, taking a job with Sportingbet via an ad he spotted in the Racing Post. In 2007 he took the helm at GVC Holdings. In 2016 and 2017 the group closed two multibillion-pound deals to acquire Bwin.Party and Ladbrokes Coral.
Kenny was revered as a leader in the sector throughout the mobile betting boom, helping to turn GVC into a FTSE 250 corporation and one of the leading European operators during his tenure. He retired from GVC in 2020.
Alexander also played a role in a HMRC investigation into Entain’s historical Turkish business. This led to the firm agreeing to pay a Deferred Prosecution Agreement of $736.1 million.
