The chairman of the Dutch gambling regulator, KSA, Michel Groothuizen, recently expressed his concerns about illegal operators targeting self-excluded users in the Netherlands. These operators have been misusing the KSA logo and Google Maps ads to reach out to players through the national self-exclusion register Cruks, which Groothuizen finds unacceptable.
On the other hand, Evoke Plc, the parent company of 888, William Hill, and Mr. Green, fell short of its H1 earnings target by £35m to £40m due to high marketing costs and lower revenue. However, they plan to recover in H2 by implementing cost-saving measures and meeting their full-year earnings expectations, which may include changes in leadership and operational strategies.
In France, the illegal gambling market has surpassed the regulated sector, with l’Association Franc?aise des Jeux En Ligne (AFJEL) warning that the number of illegal players in 2023 exceeded those in the regulated sector. While the French regulator predicted a certain amount to be wagered on licensed sites, AFJEL claims only half of that was staked.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has blocked more illegal gambling sites and experienced a significant surge in self-exclusion registrations in the first half of 2024. The country’s gambling commission shut down 11 unlicensed casino sites, while the national self-exclusion register saw a 139% increase in registrations. Men made up the majority of new sign-ups, and some were added to the register by their relatives.
In Germany, the Deutscher Online Casinoverband (DOCV) disputed the figures provided by the GGL regarding the size of the black market, arguing that it is much larger. DOCV is pushing for a faster review of the State Treaty on Gambling to address this issue and minimize regulatory delays.
Despite facing declines in revenue and net profit in the first half of the year, Svenska Spel CEO Anna Johnson remains optimistic about the company’s long-term growth prospects. Recent measures taken by the operator are expected to support their growth plans in the future.
