Month: April 2024

Spillemyndigheden identified three areas of concern regarding Mr Green and its activities in Denmark. These include insufficient risk assessment, defective and missing business processes, and lack of documentation for checks.

Separately, Mr Green also faces prosecution over another matter related to anti-money laundering processes. 

Breaking down the injunctions

The first point of concern refers to what Spillemyndigheden described as a “flawed” risk assessment. Specifically, this was in reference to Section 7 of the Money Laundering Act.

This, the regulator said, states a risk assessment should include a separate assessment of risks regarding individual payment solutions and delivery channels. As Mr Green does not currently have such a separate assessment, this places it in breach of the Act.

“Companies covered by the law must identify and assess the risk that the company may be misused for money laundering or the financing of terrorism,” Spillemyndigheden said.

The second injunction covers a lack of sufficient business procedures for internal controls. 

Spillemyndigheden said the current systems in place at Mr Green do not reference the interval at which controls must take place. Here, the regulator also notes Mr Green does not have written business procedures for how checks should run.

Section 8 of the Act states companies must have sufficient written business procedures, including internal controls.

“The requirement for internal control also implies that a check must be carried out as to whether the controls are carried out – i.e. that a control is carried out with the controls,” the regulator said. “Mr Green has not sufficiently complied with business process obligations for controls.”

The final injunction looks at a lack of documentation for checks. According to the regulator, Mr Green did not document information about checks or internal controls.

Again, this ties in with Section 8 of the Act. This states companies must document checks that have taken place.

Mr Green faces prosecution 

Spillemyndigheden has also elected to pursue prosecution against Mr Green over a breach of Section 26 of the Act. 

This refers to a requirement for companies to notify the Money Laundering Secretariat over any suspicion of money laundering or the financing of terrorism. As Mr Green failed to comply with these requirements, it will now face prosecution. 

“Mr. Green has not complied with the obligations regarding notifications, as there has been no immediate notification,” Spillemyndigheden said.

What next for Mr Green?

In terms of its future conduct, Spillemyndigheden set out details about a “duty to act” for Mr Green. This references the three injunctions filed against the operator.

First, Mr Green should submit a revised risk assessment and business process for internal controls by 10 June. It must also submit prepared business processes for how controls take place.

Furthermore, Mr Green must submit documentation to show checks have taken place by 10 October.

Spillemyndigheden added that the indictment entails no obligation to act for Mr Green, as it is a non-existing infringement.

Firstly, it’s imperative to note the demographics of Nigeria, which is the most populous country in Africa with well over 200 million inhabitants. According to a report from The Economist, that population is predicted to grow to 400 million by 2050, surpassing the US as the third most-populous country on the planet.

Looking closer at Nigeria’s populace reveals a hugely youthful population, with figures from the World Factbook outlining that approximately 41% of people in the country are aged between 14 and under, with the average age of a person in Nigeria just 19-years-old.

Taking those demographics aspects into account, and it’s clear to see why there is excitement over how Nigerian gambling can grow with its population to challenge South Africa at the top of the African industry.

The “huge” potential in Nigeria

With a youthful population with a strong interest in sports, Nigeria’s gambling market has gone from having largely just local operators to now seeing some international brands making an entry, including Betano and Betway.

Olabimpe Akingba is a legal practitioner with over a decade of experience in gaming, serving as the executive secretary of the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers between January 2020 and February 2024.

Akingba is excited by the growth of the Nigerian gambling market, particularly in the online space, where increases in internet penetration in recent times have provided a big boost.

Akingba believes Nigerian gambling will continue on its upwards trajectory, saying: “We know that in Nigeria, the gaming industry continues to have huge potential.

“The growth of technology has contributed immensely to the development of the Nigeria gaming market. Now we see a lot of competition in the igaming space, which has also shaped the industry.”

Ongoing regulation battle threatens to slow growth

That’s not to say there aren’t obstacles for Nigerian gambling to overcome, however. Perhaps the most prominent of those is the current regulatory system, with the presence of both a federal regulator and state regulators causing tension.

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) regulates gambling at the federal level, though some state regulators refuse to recognise federal licences issued by the NLRC.

A long-running dispute between the NLRC and state regulators has also reached Nigeria’s Supreme Court, with disagreements on whether federal-licensed operators must also obtain state licences. However, it’s unclear exactly when a ruling will be made.

For Opeyemi Osilojo, whose time in Nigeria’ gambling industry included nearly three years spent as brand manager at Parimatch, the regulation troubles are one of the core challenges he identifies to growth of the market. Osilojo cites the US, where states are able to establish their own regulations without federal oversight, as the kind of “clear-cut” regulatory system the operator-side is looking to have.

“Each state wants to regulate betting as they seem fit,” Osilojo says. “The challenge is that the federal government also wants to regulate the space because of revenue.

“At the moment what is obtainable is a working agreement just so that the industry doesn’t collapse and both states and the federal government get something from that thriving industry. But in terms of reaching a definite working plan, the case is still in court on how you’re going to pay for licenses and some other stuff like that.”

Harmonisation is crucial

Currently, all operators in Nigeria are mandated to gain a licence with the NLRC, though Nigerian law doesn’t mention online gambling. Operators with federal licences for land-based offerings may still have to get a state licence, while online companies licenced with the NLRC are free to operate without a state licence.

The key resolution for Akingba is increased collaboration between state and federal regulators to work together and allow Nigerian gambling to fulfil its evidently huge potential.

“The way forward is harmonisation of regulations as the federal and state regulators need one another,” Akingba explains. “There is need for collaboration to properly regulate the industry.

“However, as it is right now, the challenge it poses is the burden of ensuring compliance with multiple licenses for Federal and State, which is burdensome on the activities of gaming operators in Nigeria.  

“Secondly, the challenge has many financial implications as national and state license are subject to licence renewal fees and monthly gaming tax, which is why we see more operators preferring to conduct their activities online and dealing solely with the national regulator.”

Lagos to be at the forefront of Nigerian gambling

Lagos is Nigeria’s biggest city with a population exceeding 20 million. Its regulator, the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), has been at the heart of the dispute between state and federal regulators.

Bashir Are, the LSLGA’s chief executive, hopes the Supreme Court case will be resolved by the end of 2024. Despite the ongoing court battle, Are believes Nigerian gambling is on an upwards trajectory thanks to the youthful population and the advancement of technologies such as fintech.

While Are doesn’t categorically say Nigerian gambling is bigger than South Africa’s market, which at one point accounted for nearly half of all African gaming, he believes it will one day surpass it as Africa’s top market.

Are believes the LSLGA’s regulatory system is on a European-standard level, highlighting its work with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), as well as with regulators in Cyprus and the UK.

“Lagos is the benchmark,” Are declares. “It’s very open and transparent. It’s easy to come in and start your business in Lagos.

“Lagos is a country of its own, with highly educated people and internet very much available. It’s also the entertainment capital of Africa, so it’s highly promising, especially with the first esports arena in West Africa being in Lagos.”

BetKing one of the leaders

BetKing is the Nigerian operating business of KingMakers, a sports betting and entertainment group that also covers other African countries such as Ghana and Kenya.

In early April, BetKing announced a deal with Genius Sports to offer its in-play content in Nigeria for sports such as football and basketball.

Onu Abraham is corporate communications manager at KingMakers, and he sees BetKing as one of the top three players in Nigeria’s gambling market.

For Abraham, BetKing’s innovation will allow it to further consolidate its spot at the top of Nigeria’s gambling industry, saying: “BetKing is staying competitive in Nigeria by innovating their offerings and enhancing customer experiences.

“Recently, the company partnered with payment gateway platforms like PalmPay and Paga for smoother transactions and consumer experience. Their focus on responsible gambling and collaborations with local sports groups further solidify their position in the market.”

Will casino stop stagnation in Nigeria?

Innovation from the likes of BetKing should help to further grow Nigeria’s gambling market, which Osilojo felt was in danger of stagnating, with operators taking customers from the same pool due to product offerings largely staying the same.

“It will keep growing,” Osilojo explains. “I think also one of the major things is that I think there was a stagnation in innovation. Everybody was basically selling the same thing. If your unique selling point wasn’t odds, your unique selling point was how fast that you pay, it will be about the efficiency of your platform.

“But in terms of the products that we had, there was nothing customised. Everybody was selling the same thing, so that in itself did not give anything interesting to the customers.”

In Osilojo’s view, casino could provide further help against potential stagnation, citing growth in that sector during the Covid-19 pandemic and the halting of sporting events as one of the reasons for its development.

“I think there has been growth in casino in the Nigerian space,” Osilojo continues. “In some businesses I’ve spoken to, when I started in 2015, casino was contributing, let’s say, 4% to your revenue. Some people have up to about 12%-18% at the moment.”

Black market a concern

Alongside regulatory issues, the presence of illegal operators in Nigeria remains a concern, despite the wide availability of product offerings.

For Abraham, he feels the popularity of the black market varies on regulatory enforcement and market dynamics, though he also says actions are being taken to clamp down on illegal operators.

“The black market remains a concern in Nigeria’s gambling sector,” Abraham explains. “Efforts to address this issue include strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting responsible gambling, and fostering collaboration between industry stakeholders and regulators.”

In Akingba’s view, it should somewhat fall on regulators to make taxation favourable enough to encourage them to avoid straying into the black side of the market.

“It is crucial for regulators to take into account the impact of tax policies on the gaming industry,” Akingba says.

“By considering this factor, they can ensure that licensed operators remain profitable and that the channeling rate, which directs customers towards licensed operators, remains high. This way, the industry can thrive while promoting a safe and regulated gaming environment.”

In October 2023, the LSLGA issued banning orders to a group of operators offering gambling without a licence.

Additionally, Are says the LSLGA is looking for increased collaboration with other bodies to aid its attempts to halt the black market.

“We are working with the national communications bodies and financial fraud units so that we can block them and go after them beyond Nigerian borders.”

Nigeria’s elephant in the room

Nigerian gambling looks set for an exciting future, with Abraham highlighting aspects such as technological advancements, increasing internet access and a population with a strong interest in sports.

For Akingba, she is also encouraged by the growth she is seeing, and she is confident that Nigerian gambling will continue to show short-term improvements in innovation and gaming experiences, while also holding faith that there’ll be a regulation solution soon.

“In the near and longer term I hope to see harmonised regulations in the Nigerian gaming industry,” Akingba explains. “The focus will likely be on preventing double taxation, and I have a strong belief that this resolution will happen sooner than expected.”

In Osilojo’s view, the aforementioned youth-dominated demographics offer a huge opportunity for growth.

“The starting age for betting is 18 and you have a lot of people within the space,” Osilojo says.

“The country already has it. You just need the right resources and the right mechanics to reach those people.”

So, while the metaphorical elephant in the room of the ongoing regulation battle is certainly still present, with a Supreme Court resolution potentially coming by the end of the year, Nigerian gambling looks set to continue on its upwards trajectory.

Euro 2024 gets underway on 14 June, with sports betting activity likely to skyrocket during the tournament in Germany. Ahead of the event, the ASA has reiterated to operators their guidelines on what will be prohibited in their advertising.

The ASA highlighted the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code). The CAP Code stipulates that gambling operators must not feature anybody under the age of 25 in their advertising, including footballers. However, there is an exception for websites where bets can be placed directly.

The ASA also warned that ads mustn’t involve any player deemed to have a strong appeal to those under 18.

ASA reiterates other guidelines

The ASA has cautioned that operators shouldn’t mislead audiences by implying official endorsement from players and teams. The ASA did also state the overall impression will be taken into account.

Additionally, the ASA warned operators against the inclusion of stereotypes related to race, culture or national identity. Again, the ASA considered that context will be accounted for.

The ASA also outlined that operators shouldn’t include violent acts, using the example of Frenchman Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt on Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final.

This summer a big opportunity for operators

Alongside Euro 2024, this summer’s sporting calendar also includes another quadrennial event with the Olympic Games in Paris, as well as annual events such as Wimbledon.

Pontus Lindwall, chief executive of Betsson, says the Euros will provide benefits in sports betting, but also other offerings.

Lindwall explained: “We expect a spike across all verticals because the whole activity goes up. We have more customers coming in and, even though it’s sports betting mainly, it spills over to other products.

“I think as well, you can say that our industry ends up in the spotlight during those tournaments. We get some great exposure in the press, which is nice.”

Euro 2024 a potential boost for stagnating UK sports betting market

The UK’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) was up by almost 10% in 2023, but that was thanks to large contributions from the online casino sector.

Some of the UK’s largest operators posted down years in 2023. For instance, Bet365 announced that operating profit dropped by 88%.

888/William Hill, meanwhile, excluded like-for-like gross win comparisons with the 2018 World Cup when announcing its Christmas and World Cup earnings at the beginning of 2023. Operators will be hoping for improved results this time around.

The white paper, released in April last year, has thrown the market into uncertain waters, with the proposed introduction of affordability checks among the most controversial measures.

David Brown, who has been in the UK industry since 1976, holds a negative outlook for the UK sports betting industry.

Brown told iGB: “I’ve been in the industry for 47 years and this is the most pessimistic I have ever been over the health of the UK sports betting market.”

Bally Bet aiming for June Massachusetts launch

Saying “our commitment is strong here,” representatives from Bally Bet Thursday (11 April) told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission that it is aiming for a late June launch in the Bay State. Bally’s had previously promised a “late Q2” launch, but hadn’t put a date on it. The company has had a temporary sports betting licence in the state since early 2023. When Bally Bet launches it will bring the total number of digital platforms available in Massachusetts to seven after Betr and WynnBET exited the state earlier this year.

“Having someone that we’ve started with the licensing process, a group come in and actually get going, is exciting to us,” interim MGC chair Jordan Maynard said during the meeting.

SCOTUS grants extension in Florida sports betting case

The US Supreme Court will allow the federal government until May 13 to file its response in the case brought by West Flagler and Associates. The case could change the face of sports betting in Florida, where the Seminole Tribe launched their Hard Rock Bet platform last November. The government asked for an extension 4 April citing a heavy workload. While it appears the court responded within 24 hours, the docket wasn’t updated until this week.

Porter could face NBA ban

NBA commissioner Adam Silver told reporters 10 April that Toronto’s Jontay Porter could be banned from the league. This follows betting accusations around the player’s performance.

“I have an enormous range of discipline available to me,” Silver said, according to the Associated Press. “It’s a cardinal sin what he’s accused of in the NBA. The ultimate extreme option I have is to ban him from the game. That’s the level of authority I have here because there’s nothing more serious.”

Porter, who as of Wednesday had not played in 10 consecutive games. He left games on 26 January and 20 March after brief appearances, and did not hit the numbers offered in props on him in either game. Porter would be the first banned NBA player since PASPA was overturned. The NFL so far has penalised 10 players for betting violations, and the NHL has banned one.

ESPN BET releases playoff ad

Ahead of the NBA and NHL playoffs, ESPN BET 10 April released its latest video ad featuring Scott Van Pelt:

ESPN also announced this week that it is extending its deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions through 2034. Under the terms of the deal, “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” will continue, and ESPN will have access to other original content.

Delaware market to open up?

A pair of lawmakers have filed bills in Delaware that expand the number of sports betting platforms available in the state, according to WBOC. Currently, the only option in the state is BetRivers, but the new bill would allow for additional operators to partner with local casinos. The new bill, HB 365, was born of the Internet Sports Lottery Legislative Working Group, which was created via legislative mandate in 2023.

The bill would set a tax rate of 18 percent on adjusted gross revenue, and a $500,000 license fee. Licenses would be good for five years.

No casino for Richmond

Late last week, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a package of bills that removes the city of Richmond from the list of cities in the state that could apply for a casino license. In 2020, lawmakers in Virginia legalised sports betting, and along with it, the designated five potential brick-and-mortar casino locations across the state.

Since 2020, casinos have opened in Bristol, Danville, and Portsmouth, and one is planned in Norfolk. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Youngskin also put Petersburg on the “fast track” to be the state’s fifth casino location.

NOLA casino hotel on track

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported 10 April that the new Caesars New Orleans hotel, adjacent to the only land-based casino in the state, is on schedule to open in the autumn and ahead of Super Bowl LIX 9 February 2025. The casino, which has operated under the Harrah’s banner since the 1990s, is also being completely renovated. The new hotel tower will be 15 floors with 340 rooms.

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This represented a slight decrease of 4.6% compared to Q3 2023.

Star did not disclose its full third quarter results at this time, but provided some detail on the main aspects of its operations.

Star’s third quarter was tumultuous. In February, The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission confirmed that it would conduct a second inquiry into Star, a successor to the infamous Bell report. Entitled Bell Two, the inquiry began on 19 February and will run until 31 May.

Star requested a temporary trading halt for its ordinary shares on the Australian Securities Exchange on the day the second inquiry was announced.

The first Bell report uncovered a host of anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings at Star Sydney, and recommended 30 measures to improve practices. One year after the initial inquiry was published, a report revealed that Star had put 22 of the 30 proposals into practice.

This second inquiry will focus on the culture at Star, as well as analysing the effects of the first Bell report.

What’s in the trading update?

Star said that revenue from its properties’ premium gaming rooms fell year-on-year during the third quarter. This was felt across the board – at The Star Sydney, premium gaming rooms revenue fell 19.3%. For The Star Gold Coast this decrease hit 20.0%, while at Treasury Brisbane it was 28%.

However, revenue from the main gaming floor was positive. This was up by 5.4% at The Star Sydney, 4.6% at The Star Gold Coast and 6.4% at Treasury Brisbane. Despite this Star confirmed that the premium gaming rooms revenue caused overall revenue at all three properties to fall 4.6%.

Gaming levies and taxes totalled $105.0m during the quarter, 2.9% less than in Q3 2023. The highest amount – $37.1m – was incurred in January. January also saw the most net revenue for Star, hitting $146.6m.

However, operating expenses were highest overall in March at $97.1m. In total, operating expenses reached $276.3m for the quarter, an improvement of 4.2%. Star said this was due to an increase in resourcing for its risk, controls and transformation teams.

Normalised EBITDA was $37.9m. This represented the largest fall of the quarter, declining 11.5%. It was a different story with normalised EBITDA, which came in at $9.3m – a significant improvement on the $6.0m loss recorded year-on-year.

Following significant items before tax – which resulted in a loss of $10.8m – the net loss after tax was $6.8m. But this was a positive result compared to the $49.7m loss recorded in Q3 2023.

Turbulent times ahead

In March, one month after Bell Two launched, Star’s CEO Robbie Cooke and CFO Christina Katsibouba stepped down. Chair David Foster was appointed as executive chair in the interim, while the search for a new CEO continues.

Star has had ongoing difficulty with its CEO position. When Cooke took on the role in November 2022, he was the fourth CEO in one year. He had followed on from Matt Bekier, John O’Neill and Geoff Hogg.

Bekier stood down during an investigation into The Star Sydney, which began in June 2021.

Star has also faced a number of ongoing regulatory headwinds in recent years. It was declared “unsuitable” to hold a licence in Queensland in October 2022. Star subsequently had its licence suspended in the state and was ordered to pay a fine of $100m. Star’s New South Wales licence was also suspended indefinitely in October 2022. Additionally, it was ordered to pay a $100m penalty.

According to a tweet from The Athletic’s Sam Blum, Mizuhara was shackled entering court.

The interpreter is being charged with federal bank fraud, which carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison. His arraignment in the illegal wagering case is scheduled for 9 May.

Mizuhara late Thursday (11 April) turned himself into federal authorities, according to the US Attorney’s office. According to an affidavit filed Thursday, Mizuhara stole from Ohtani to pay off debt he incurred betting with an illegal bookmaker in Orange County, Calif. Sports betting is illegal in California.

During the two-year ordeal, Mizuhara bet hundreds of millions of dollars. He also systematically transferred access to Ohtani’s accounts from the ballplayer to himself.

US Attorney Martin Estrada said during a press conference Thursday that Ohtani has fully cooperated with authorities and is considered a victim in this case.

Mizuhara required to begin gambling addiction program

Mizuhara appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Maria A. Audero Friday (12 April), and did not enter a plea in the illegal wagering case. He is required to begin a program for gambling addiction, cannot contact Ohtani and has restrictions on his movements, according to Blum, who was at the courthouse in Los Angeles.

According to the affidavit, once Mizuhara began gambling in September 2021, his addiction escalated quickly. He repeatedly referred to himself as a bad gambler, but also continued to ask for additional credit from his bookmaker.

The interpreter’s bookmaker is linked to a comprehensive federal investigation. That investigation includes former minor-league baseball player Wayne Nix, MGM, and former Los Angeles Dodger Yasiel Puig, who pled guilty for lying to federal agents.

According to the affidavit, Mizuhara texted the bookmaker, “Technically I did steal from him. It’s all over for me,” on the day the story first broke.

According to the New York Times, Mizuhara is negotiating for a plea deal.

Throughout the affidavit, Ohtani is referred to as “Victim A” and, in a press conference, US Attorney Martin Estrada said “Mr Ohtani is considered a victim in this case.” Major League Baseball released a statement saying that it “will wait until resolution of the criminal proceeding to determine whether further investigation is warranted”.

Since the story broke 20 March, Ohtani, the two-way Japanese baseball star who signed baseball’s richest contract during the off-season, has maintained that he was duped. Thursday’s filing appears to support the claim that Ohtani is considered a victim.

Mizuhara’s betting part of a bigger investigation

Mizuhara, who was also Ohtani’s manager and handled daily tasks for him, is expected to appear in court on Friday (12 April) and, according to ESPN, his lawyer declined to comment Thursday.

Mizuhara’s betting is linked to a massive illegal bookmaking ring with ties to former minor-leauge baseball player Wayne Nix that the federal government has been investigating. Nix is not named in the affidavit, nor is Mathew Bowyer, the Orange County-based illegal bookmaker who allegedly took Mizuhara’s bets. Although Bowyer is unnamed, details in the affidavit point to his identity.

So far, Seymour wrote, the investigations have resulted in “criminal charges and/or convictions of 12 criminal defendants and one money-service business”. The investigation is ongoing.

In the affidavit, Seymour details how Mizuhara changed the contact information on Ohtani’s account to Mizuhara’s cell phone number and email address. Mizuhara also “falsely identified himself” to bank authorities and told Ohtani’s financial advisors that the baseball player was denying them access to his accounts.

Mizuhara initially set up the bank account into which Ohtani’s Los Angeles Angels salary was deposited in 2018. While Mizuhara used funds from Ohtani’s account to fund his gambling and cover his debt, the former interpreter had winnings deposited into his own account.

Gambling quickly got out of control

According to the affidavit, the interpreter began gambling in September 2021, and quickly began to rack up debt. He did not bet on baseball, but did bet on a range of other sports.

As early as November 2021, Mizuhara was already running into problems paying his debts. According to text messages in the affidavit, in some cases he could not write funds and attempts at PayPal transfers were cancelled. Mizuhara called the process “super stressing”.

While Mizuhara struggled to pay the bookmaker, the bookmaker continued to extend Mizuhara’s credit and offer him free-play options. While Mizuhara often asked for increases in credit, in March 2022, he asked the bookmaker to lower his limit to $100,000, saying that he would “get too reckless with 300”.

By November 2023, according to text records, Mizuhara knew that he was in trouble. He texted the bookmaker, who was demanding payment, saying that he had “ended up losing a lot of money on crypto” and that he “took a huge hit obviously with the sports too”. He also asked the bookmaker if he could settle.

When he was betting, Mizuhara bet an average of $12,800 per wager, according to the affidavit. The size of the bets ranged from $10 to $160,000 and Mizuhara placed a total of about 19,000 bets, or an average of 25 bets per day. In total, Mizuhara placed $142.3m in winning bets and $182.9m in losing bets, leaving him $40.7m in debt.

According to KSA, Casbit has been offering online gambling without a licence in the country. Casbit is active in the Netherlands via its Lala.bet website.

KSA said it has issued several warnings to Casbit about its activity, saying that it could issue a penalty. Casbit responded by making its website inaccessible for Dutch players.

However, upon re-inspection, the regulator found players in the Netherlands were still able to access the website. As such, the KSA has moved ahead with a penalty order. This will be active if Casbit fails to cease operations in the country.

Casbit fine could reach €840,000

Therefore, Casbit will have to pay a penalty of €280,000 (£239,002/$299,156) each week that it is still active in the Netherlands. This penalty can reach a maximum of €840,000, or up to three weeks of illegal activity. 

“Strict rules and regulations apply to offering games of chance with a permit,” KSA said. “These are aimed at providing a safe legal offer, where players are assured of fair play and are protected against gambling addiction. 

“Offering illegal games of chance undermines that system and the safety of the player. As such, the KSA therefore strictly enforces this.”

Clamping down on illegal gambling activity

Casbit is the latest operator to feel the wrath of KSA over unlicensed online operations in the Netherlands. 

In March, the regulator issued its largest ever fine of €19.6m to Gammix Limited for offering games without a licence.

In June 2022, Gammix was ordered to leave the market or risk paying €1.4m in weekly fines. Then, the following March, KSA ordered Gammix to pay €4.4m for not complying with an order to stop operating in the Netherlands.

This latest fine relates to these two previous orders. The KSA note Gammix “has not taken any measures to ban players from the Netherlands”.

Regulatory action has not been limited to operators. This week, KSA instructed hosting provider DigitalOcean to cease offering services to illegal affiliate sites.

KSA issued a binding order following an investigation that unfolded throughout 2023. Such action is usually given in cases where an infringement has occurred, but a sanction not yet deemed appropriate.

Dutch gambling market set for growth

Against this backdrop of regulatory action, there is more positive news for the legal Dutch market. 

This week, KSA published its bi-annual gambling report, offering a comprehensive overview of the market. Headline figures include that for 2023, gross gaming revenue climbed 28% to €1.39bn.

Total player accounts climbed from 970,000 in December 2022 to 1.1 million in December 2023. The report estimates that 726,000 players were active with legal providers. This means approximately 5% of the adult population were active gamblers in H2 of 2023. 

Looking forward, H2 Gambling Capital, estimates growth in the Netherlands will be fixed at approximately 8% over the next five years. 

Handle was 28.4% higher than $197.0m in March last year and 24.6% ahead of February this year. It was also just 3.1% lower than the Kansas record of $260.9m in November 2022.

Of this total, $243.2m was bet online, while $9.7m was wagered at retail sportsbooks across the state.

In terms of revenue, this amounted to $7.1m in March. The figure was 22.0% lower than the $9.1m generated last year but 129.0% ahead of February’s $3.1m haul.

All revenue in March came from online betting, with retail failing to generate any revenue for operators. It was also noted that the state collected $714,697 in sports betting tax during the month.

DraftKings and Boot Hill retain the lead in Kansas

Having taken the lead in February, DraftKings and partner Boot Hill remained out in front in the Kansas online market. During March, the partnership generated $4.7m in revenue from $98.3m in bets.

FanDuel and Kansas Star again placed second with $2.2m in online revenue off $70.2m in total bets. 

As was the case in February, Caesar’s and Kansas Crossing was the only other partnership to generate revenue in March. This totalled $257,071 from an $11.9m handle.

Incidentally, two other online partnerships had higher handles than Caesar’s and Kansas Crossing but did not generated revenue. Kansas Crossing and other partner BetMGM took $42.7m, while Hollywood and ESPN Bet processed $17.9m in bets.

The only other online operator in Kansas is Fanatics, which replaced PointsBet as Kansas Crossing’s third partner in March. Players bet $1.3m though the partnership. 

Year-to-date handle reaches $1.86bn

Looking at the year-to-date, total spend to the end of March amounted to $1.86bn. This includes $1.78bn in online wagers and $83.3m in retail bets.

Revenue totalled $87.6m, with $83.1m coming from the online market and $4.5m retail.

Cortes admitted to 35 breaches of the ITIA Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). Charges relate to activity between 2016 and 2018.

Breaches include contriving the outcome of events, accepting money to impact outcomes of events and failed to report corrupt approaches. The ITIA also said Cortes wagered on tennis and provided money to tournament officials in exchange for a wild card.

The 29-year-old, who had a career-high world singles ranking of 955 in September 2017, co-operated fully with the ITIA investigation. He also accepted an agreed sanction and waived the right to a hearing before an independent anti-corruption hearing officer.

As a result, Cortes will be banned from 27 March 2024 until 26 March 2039. He has also been ordered to pay a $75,000 (£59,823/€70,039) fine, with $56,250 of this suspended.  

During the ban, Cortes cannot play in, coach at or attend events authorised or sanctioned by ITIA members or national associations.

ITIA tackling tennis corruption

Cortes is the latest individual to be banned over corruption in tennis. The ITIA has issued a series of sanctions in recent weeks as part of a crack-down on such activity.

Such sanctions are not limited to players, with the ITIA also taking action against officials.

This month, Italian official Manuel Guion was suspended for period of five years and six months following breaches of the TACP. The ban runs from 5 February 2024 to 4 August 2029.

In March, Croatian official Marko Stojanovic was also suspended from the sport for five years and six months. This came after the ITIA identified multiple breaches of the TACP, including manipulating match data to facilitate betting.

Other action includes banning Italian player Andrea Rita for 15 months for breaching its rules on betting. France’s Maxence Broville was also banned for seven years after he failed to co-operate with an anti-corruption investigation.

Wider issues facing tennis

Corruption is just one problem facing the ITIA, with other issues also cropping up in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, the ITIA sanctioned former player and Peruvian tournament director and Davis Cup captain Luis Horna for breaching betting sponsorship rules. Horna co-operated fully with the investigation and did not contest the charge.

Meanwhile, Swedish player Dragos Nicolae Madaras was suspended for four years and six months. This came after Madaras failed to submit a personal device for examination when issued a request to do so.