The Dutch mental health service is calling for a total ban on online gambling advertisements in the Netherlands.

Although a ban on untargeted gambling advertisements and a ban on the use of role models has been in effect since 2023, a recent research by KRO-NCRV’s Pointer shows that (illegal) gambling companies and sports tipster platforms are still enticing young people via social media such as TikTok and Snapchat.

By using influencers and terms like “free money”, they try to attract a young audience and thus lower the threshold to start gambling. This concerns both legal online casinos and online casinos that do not have a license in the Netherlands. The Gaming Authority has started an investigation based on Pointer’s findings.

Advertisement

Pointer’s research shows that part of the gambling industry deliberately targets young people who are often susceptible to promises such as “fast money” and the influence of role models. Ruth Peetoom, chair of the Dutch mental health service, compares this approach to that of the tobacco industry, where similar marketing strategies were used to get young people to smoke.

Despite the existing advertising ban, gambling companies continue to explore the boundaries of the law, according to Peetoom. The Dutch mental health and addiction care associations in the Netherlands therefore push for a total ban on online gambling advertising and stricter rules for the duty of care of gambling providers.

With the call for a total ban, the Dutch mental health care sector hopes to prevent further normalisation of gambling behaviour among young people and to protect them from the temptation and consequences of online gambling.

Xace has announced that Petra Maria Poola has joined the company as Group Commercial Director.

Petra brings a wealth of experience from the iGaming industry having formerly held roles at several iGaming companies such as Yolo, Relax Gaming and SiGMA. She will lead the commercial growth of Xace and its group companies, including crypto and iGaming focused xda.io, helping to drive strategic initiatives across banking, fintech and iGaming solutions.

In her new role, she will mainly oversee the growth of the group’s sales, marketing and account management functions, ensuring a cohesive strategy that supports Xace’s ambitious expansion plans.

Advertisement

“I am incredibly excited to start this new chapter with Xace, and work alongside such a talented team and management. Transitioning into the fintech space, while still connected to iGaming, presents an exciting opportunity for growth and learning. I’m looking forward to applying my expertise to help Xace and its group companies achieve new heights commercially, while gaining deeper insights into the fast-evolving world of fintech,” said Petra Maria Poola.

Reuben Abel, CEO of Xace, said: “Petra’s extensive background in the iGaming sector, combined with her commercial acumen, makes her a valuable addition to the Xace team. She will play a crucial role in expanding Xace’s market presence and enhancing its suite of services tailored to the specific needs of the iGaming and fintech industries.”

JohnSlots and Popiplay are both on an upwards trajectory-two brands that have had a significant impact on the iGaming sector in their own ways. And now they’re coming together, as JohnSlots has just announced that it will review 40 Popiplay slots over the next year, covering the developer’s latest games and discussing their pros and cons for the studio’s growing audience of eager players.

Who are Popiplay and JohnSlots?

JohnSlots launched back in 2013 and quickly established itself as a trusted source for casino and slot reviews. It adopted a unique approach from the outset, hiring experienced writers and instructing them to follow a meticulous 15-point rating process that accounts for aspects such as:

Advertisement

• Gaming metrics—including the game’s RTP, payout frequency and maximum payout

• Gameplay—the enjoyability of the game and how easy it is to play

• Features—free spins, bonus rounds, jackpots, payline mechanics and other notable features

• Experience—how the game’s rules, features and paytable correspond to the actual gameplay experience

Every review is honest, and each one takes the writer about 16 hours to complete. Only when they are properly acquainted with the game will the writer start the review and provide their rating.

Advertisement

Popiplay & JohnSlots: What it Means

For JohnSlots, this partnership will provide its review team with 40 different titles, all released steadily throughout the next year. Some of these games have already been featured on the site, while others are in the works and undergoing that extensive review process, including September and October 2024 releases like Cultist, Baba Jam, Bubbles and Maxzilla.

Popiplay could also benefit, as it means the developer’s slots will be covered by one of the most experienced review teams in the sector. They will be subject to strict scrutiny, but if they emerge with positive ratings, it puts more eyes on those new releases.

Popiplay launched as recently as 2022, so it has only had a couple of years to make an impact. It has released a lot of slots in that time and is already making a name for itself, but a series of positive reviews could be a shot in the arm for this Scandinavian studio.

Its expanding portfolio already features at many online casinos, and as more operators and aggregators stand up and take notice, that number will increase. Collaborations like this one could help the studio’s reputation.

Advertisement

What it Means for Players

Online casino gamers are the ones who will benefit the most from this partnership:

• Honest and Transparent Reviews: There is no shortage of slot reviews out there, but JohnSlots adopts a different approach to the usual brief summaries. Every review is detailed and extensive, with a 15-point system that accounts for all important metrics and features.

• Free-Play Games: There are over 1500 slot reviews on the JohnSlots platform, and 98% of these host a demo game. The same will be true for most of the Popiplay titles that its team reviews, giving players a chance to spin them risk-free and make up their own minds.

• News on the Latest Popiplay Titles: Popiplay already has a substantial following, and those fans can read reviews of the latest slots shortly after their release. Despite spending over 16 hours on each review, the JohnSlots team works quickly and gets these reviews out while there is still plenty of buzz around the slot.

Advertisement

• A Cherry-Picked Selection: There are dozens of developers releasing hundreds of slots every year and giving players a seemingly endless selection. It can be overwhelming, but JohnSlots aims to narrow those releases down, highlighting the very best and showing players what makes them so special. It means that gamers can skip the filler and focus on the games that are actually worth playing.