NetGaming has partnered with Caesars to boost online casino offerings
NetGaming has teamed up with Caesars Entertainment to bring its gaming titles to Caesars’ iGaming platforms. As part of this exciting collaboration, players can look forward to enjoying popular NetGaming games. The deal is set to launch in the second half of 2025, with more games scheduled for future release.
This partnership reflects both companies’ commitment to expanding their digital gaming portfolios and enhancing the player experience. For NetGaming, this marks another major step in its ongoing push into the North American market. The company has already made similar agreements, including a partnership with BetMGM in August 2023.
Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, said: “We are delighted to join forces with Caesars, one of the most iconic and respected brands in the gaming industry. This agreement is a significant milestone for us, allowing NetGaming to reach a wider audience and show our innovative, high-quality games that truly engage players.”
Dutch gambling market experiences growth in 2023-2024
The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has released its 2023 Market Scan alongside a report for the first half of 2024, showing continued growth in the Dutch gambling industry.
In 2023, the legal gambling market’s gross gaming revenue (GSR) hit €4 billion, a 21.2% increase from 2022’s €3.3 billion. This growth is mainly driven by the casino games sector, both online and offline. However, despite a 19% rise in GSR for land-based casinos, figures are still below pre-pandemic levels from 2019.
The gambling market is dominated by land-based casino games (33%) and lotteries (30%), with sports betting representing the smallest share at 9%.
Dutch players continue to spend less on gambling than the European average. In 2023, per capita annual spending was €272, compared to the European average of €339.
The online gambling sector has shown steady growth. In the first half of 2024, the GSR for online gambling increased by 8%, reaching €752 million.
Online gambling accounts also saw an increase, averaging 1.07 million per month in early 2024. However, only 455,000 accounts were actively used each month.
Young adults aged 18-23 represent a growing share of the online market, contributing 10.8% to the GSR in 2024, up from 9.6% in 2023. Despite this, they tend to spend less, with an average loss of €55 per month.
The reports also revealed a rise in gambling addiction treatment. In 2023, 2,456 people received treatment, a 28% increase from 2022.
Earlier, the Dutch gambling regulator confirmed the details of new gambling technical requirements.
The EU Fitness Check revealed key digital fairness issues in consumer protection laws
The European Commission’s recent Fitness Check on EU consumer law in the digital sector has brought attention to several important issues, particularly for the gambling and lottery industries. This review looked at three key consumer protection directives to ensure they remain relevant in today’s digital marketplace.
A major concern highlighted is the increasing overlap between gambling and gaming, especially through features like loot boxes. These in-game mechanics often mimic gambling behaviours and pose potential risks to younger players. Some EU countries have moved to regulate or even ban loot boxes for minors, but the lack of uniformity across member states shows a clear need for more consistent policies.
The review also identified issues with manipulative advertising on gambling websites and apps. Hidden influencer marketing for gambling products was another area of concern, with calls from consumer groups to ban such practices, particularly when aimed at children.
Additionally, the Fitness Check pointed out uncertainties regarding the application of new digital regulations, like the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, to gambling services. This lack of clarity may affect how online gambling platforms are governed in the future.
While no immediate legal changes have been recommended, the review lays the groundwork for future reforms. One such initiative is the upcoming Digital Fairness Act, expected to tackle unethical digital practices such as dark patterns, addictive designs, and manipulative marketing in online spaces.
