Industry News
Dutch Schools Launch €8M Project to Teach Gambling Harms
The government of the Netherlands has approved an €8m education programme to teach “money matters, debt and understanding risks” across Dutch schools.
The programme is spearheaded by Minister Carola Schouten, who oversees Dutch policies for poverty prevention, social participation and civic pensions.
Schouten outlined that the programme has been designed to improve financial literacy in schools as a means to protect Dutch youth from incurring debt and to ensure that money management is taught at a critical learning age.
The programme’s curriculum will primarily fund the training of teachers, empowering them to educate students about critical financial matters they will face once they are financially independent.
Significantly, Schouten confirmed that the programme would contain an “emphasis on understanding the risks of online gambling and cryptocurrency investments”.
Research by Nibud found that over a quarter of vocational students had debts or faced payment arrears, a statistic that the government hopes to alleviate with this initiative.
Following its initial test phase, Schouten will aim to expand the programme across all Dutch primary and secondary schools from 2024 onwards.
“This programme not only seeks to equip young people with important financial skills but also to create a support network within the school and community for those facing financial difficulties,” Schouten said.
The Dutch government’s concerns about gambling exposure to underage children have seen it sanction a ban on “untargeted gambling advertising,” to be imposed from July 1.
The ban will restrict gambling advertising to pre-approved campaigns that demonstrate a minimum of 95% of their exposures reach consumers aged 24 or older.
These combined efforts signal a firm commitment from the Dutch government to tackle financial illiteracy and the risks associated with online gambling while promoting safe and informed financial behaviours amongst its younger population.
Industry News
FDJ Announces its First Bond Issue
La Française des Jeux (FDJ), one of Europe’s leading betting and gaming operators, will meet investors over the next days with a view to launching its first bond issue, subject to market conditions.
FDJ recall that, on 7 November, Moody’s assigned the Group a long-term credit rating of Baa1 – stable outlook.
With a total value of €1.5 billion, in 3 tranches with maturity of 6, 9 and 12 years, the bond issue would be used to refinance most of the €2 billion bridging loan, drawn on 7 October to finance the acquisition of Kindred shares for nearly €2.5 billion. The bonds will be listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris.
Furthermore, FDJ is finalising a €400 million syndicated loan with top-tier French and international banks, which will be repaid over 5 years. This financing is also intended to repay the bridging loan which will be settled with Group’s cash.
The post FDJ Announces its First Bond Issue appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Balkans
CT Interactive Shortlisted in Two Categories at BEGE Awards 2024
CT Interactive has announced that it was shortlisted in two categories for the upcoming prestigious BEGE Awards 2024. The company has been recognised for its exceptional contributions to the online gaming industry by being among the finalists for Online Game of the Year for the innovative and engaging game Doctor Winstein Buy Bonus and Online Provider of the Year.
The BEGE Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in the gaming and entertainment industry, will be held on November 27, 2024, at the Club Black & White in the Grand Hotel Millennium, Sofia.
This year’s nominations reflect CT Interactive’s dedication to creating top-tier gaming experiences and its continuous efforts to push boundaries in the online gaming world.
“Being recognised in these two categories is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our entire team. We are thrilled to be among the industry’s finest at the BEGE Awards once again,” said Monika Zlateva, CCO at CT Interactive.
The post CT Interactive Shortlisted in Two Categories at BEGE Awards 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
Public Voting Starts for Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 3.0
The highly anticipated Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 3.0 has officially entered the public voting phase as submissions are closed.
More than 70 game providers have turned in over 160 submissions, including Tom Horn Gaming, Pragmatic Play and RubyPlay. Public voting involves enthusiasts casting their votes to pick the winner of the Game of Public Choice category.
The Public voting phase ends on December 1st 23:59 GMT+4.
Concurrent to public voting, the first phase of private voting also starts during which all participants who have submitted entries get the chance to vote for one favourite in each category. An international auditing company oversees this phase to eliminate duplicate votes and self-votes. This phase ends on November 19, 23:59 GMT+4.
The second phase of private voting will also take place with a jury of industry experts making their decisions based on the shortlist picked by participants during the first phase.
The post Public Voting Starts for Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 3.0 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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