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Assessing the Dutch market

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It is a full year since the regulated online market opened in the Netherlands. In this round-table feature, we ask Matej Filipančič, Head of Turnkey Solutions at Bragg Gaming, for his view on how the market has performed to date and what lies around the corner.

Having opened up online gambling in October 2021, the Dutch regulator De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) implemented a cooling-off period affecting many major operators. Has this affected the growth potential of the Dutch market?

It’s hard to say and with a year since the new legislation entered into force, it is now easier to focus on the positives and how the market has evolved in the last 12 months. First mover advantage has been crucial in the Netherlands and the initial 10 licensees have really carved out a big market share. It’s great to see that players have been channelled towards new operators rather than staying with incumbent ones as it means wider choice, exciting new products and better promotions through various acquisition channels. Consequently, this should attract more players, leading to healthy market growth. We think the Dutch lawmakers and regulators have done a great job with the new legislation benefiting both operators and players and we have great expectations for the potential in the country.

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Will restrictions on advertising make it difficult for new entrants to the market to gain market share? If so, what part can suppliers play in attracting and retaining Dutch players?

It is very important to distinguish between online operators and those with a land-based presence here as there will be a relative advantage for the latter who will still be able to use some methods of advertising to retain players. All operators will need to be innovative and creative in coming up with ways to reach customers while also making sure their campaigns are fully compliant. For newcomers, it will become more difficult to gain a player base compared with those that were present at the time of market opening. The new restrictions are not at all in favour of newly licensed operators in that sense, but suppliers can make a big difference here. At ORYX, we offer a wide range of retention tools, which became even more important to operators after the marketing ban announcement. The new licensees on our platform have already come up with very exciting and successful strategies on how to utilise our state-of-the-art Fuze™ player engagement platform and other products to stay ahead of the competition.

 

What appetite have you seen among Dutch players for content types that are popular in other regulated European markets? Are they out-performing classic games that originate from the Dutch land-based heritage?

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We have seen that top-performing content from world-leading providers such as Evolution, GAMOMAT and Pragmatic Play has outperformed the rest of the competition. This includes localised traditional studios like Greentube, Edict (Merkur) and Stakelogic, who still remain very popular with players. The result is a relatively healthy mix between the traditional games which have been present in the land-based machines for decades in the Netherlands and internationally recognised brands which perform well in all markets. Live casino has also been very strong and seems to have a great appeal to Dutch players.

 

What are your hopes for the Dutch market across the next 12 months?

Hopefully the restrictions will be applied equally on all operator websites, including the state-owned companies that were already in the market before the new regulation entered into force. There is of course potential for growth for all licensees, old or new, but it is crucial for recent entrants to be innovative to acquire and retain players. ORYX was the first external platform to launch in the Dutch market and we hope to maintain the position as a leading supplier there with the help of the exceptional track record of our operator partners.

We hope our platform partners can make use of all our tools to continue to grow and operate successfully in the Netherlands, gaining market share while making sure they are fully compliant and continue to excel in terms of Responsible Gaming and player protection. We are also in a great position to offer our proprietary products to new clients in the market and can guarantee a safe and exciting experience for the players, along with a profitable business for our partners.

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Play’n GO Honoured at Corporate Star Awards Ceremony

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Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, was honoured as a global leader in Environmental Social Governance (ESG) practices at the prestigious Corporate Star Awards held in Amsterdam. The company was the only iGaming company shortlisted at the ceremony, and was nominated for the Best ESG Report award, placing it among renowned organisations such as Globo, EVS and SONY Entertainment, who won the category overall.

The Corporate Star Awards are known for recognising excellence in corporate reporting and sustainability, and Play’n GO’s nomination for the Best ESG Report Award is testament to its commitment to transparency and responsible business practices.

Play’n GO’s ESG Report provides comprehensive insights into the company’s environmental initiatives, social impact and governance practices, and showcases Play’n GO’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, promoting diversity and inclusion, and maintaining high ethical standards throughout its operations.

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The Corporate Star Awards recognise organisations that go above and beyond in their commitment to ESG practices, setting a benchmark for corporate responsibility. Play’n GO’s inclusion among the shortlisted companies underscores its position as a global leader in the iGaming industry and its dedication to sustainable business practices.

Johan Törnqvist, CEO and co-founder of Play’n GO, said: “We are truly honoured to be recognized as a global ESG leader at the Corporate Star Awards. This nomination is a testament to our unwavering dedication to sustainability and responsible business practices. We believe that a strong ESG framework is essential for the long-term success of any organization, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement. We look forward to participating in next year’s awards, and to furthering our own ESG initiatives.”

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Amusnet Releases Speed Baccarat, a New Addition to its Live Casino Portfolio

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Amusnet is presenting its newest Live Casino release – a fresh look and feel for a true casino classic that has become one of the most popular card games – Speed Baccarat.

The latest addition to the company’s portfolio mesmerises with Asian elegance and promises a lifelike gaming experience to anyone who wants to have a taste of this all-time casino favourite. Fast rounds are available, which adds to the excitement and thrill which the game brings.

Amusnet’s Speed Baccarat is played with eight standard decks of 52 cards, and it is available 24/7 with a live dealer hosting the game. It offers immersive real-time streaming with ultra-low latency. The objective of this Live Casino game is to predict the winning hand closest to 9, which could be the Player’s hand, the Dealer’s hand or there could be a Tie.

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A variety of Main bets and Side bets is available, along with several in-game features to guarantee an engaging and thrilling gameplay, such as Re-bet, Double the Bet, Scoreboards and Game Statistics. A live Chat is also at players’ disposal, providing them with the chance to communicate with the dealer and the rest of the players.

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The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.

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Christian Reinhard Becomes New Board Member for Technology and Development at Merkur Group

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The Merkur Group has welcomed Mr. Christian Reinhard as the new Board Member for Technology and Development. Reinhard, a 50-year-old computer science graduate, succeeds Werner Kurt Schroer, who resigned from his position on the Board for health reasons after almost 19 years of successful service, but will continue to be available to the Group as an advisor.

“We would like to thank Mr. Schroer for the extraordinarily successful years we have spent together. At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Mr. Reinhard to the board of directors. By appointing Mr. Reinhard as the board member responsible for technology and development, we are ensuring continuity in the area of development that is so important for the group of companies, while also creating space for fresh ideas. We wish Mr. Reinhard every success in his new role and always the necessary bit of luck,” said company founder and board spokesman Paul Gauselmann.

Christian Reinhard has over 20 years of experience in the series development of automotive electronics. In his career to date, he has developed a wide range of technologies, including navigation systems, cluster instruments, driver assistance systems and vehicle networking systems, which are now installed in numerous vehicles worldwide.

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In addition to his technical expertise, Reinhard has more than 15 years of experience in managing and structuring internationally distributed development teams, such as those in the Merkur Group. Most recently, he was responsible for a team of 3500 developers and played a key role in the development and release of safety-critical systems that, like the vending machine industry, are subject to strict regulatory requirements.

Christian Reinhard said: “After dedicating my 23-year career to developing high-quality mobility experiences, I am looking forward to a new challenge in a dynamic and creative environment. I am particularly fascinated by the gaming industry because of the collaboration between a wide variety of disciplines – art, design, mathematics, programming, data security and electronics development – and the opportunity to create unforgettable moments of entertainment and joy in the game.”

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