Industry News

Assessing the Dutch market

Published

3 years ago

October 18, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.

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?

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.

Champions League

Flashscore reveals data behind thrilling night of Champions League action

Published

4 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

flashscore-reveals-data-behind-thrilling-night-of-champions-league-action

New data from Flashscore, the world’s leading platform for live scores and sports content, reveals that almost 34,000,000 users tuned in yesterday for one of the most dramatic nights in UEFA Champions League history.

The intensity of the matches generated a massive wave of digital engagement, with 18 matches all taking place at the same time on the final day of the league format.

From the football-mad streets of Brazil to the frozen research stations of Antarctica, fans across 239 countries and territories checked their phones as Benfica’s goalkeeper scored a 98th-minute header and Real Madrid crashed into the playoffs.

Martin Matejka, Marketing Director of Flashscore, said: “Yesterday wasn’t just a matchday; it was a global event and we were well prepared. When game-changing moments decide matches – from a goalkeeper’s stoppage-time header against Real Madrid to last-minute winners across Europe – the world doesn’t just watch, it reacts. Flashscore sent out over 700 million push notifications to our users as drama unfolded across the continent.

“Our data shows unprecedented engagement from all over the world, and I am glad we could bring these extraordinary moments to fans from Brazil to Antarctica.”

TOP MATCHES ranked by number of users

The drama at the Estádio da Luz dominated the global conversation, with nearly 10 million users following the Benfica-Madrid clash alone.

1 Benfica vs. Real Madrid (9,7M users): The undisputed main event. Fans flocked to the match detail as Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a historic 98th-minute header to seal a 4-2 win, sending Real Madrid to the playoffs.

2 Barcelona vs. FC Copenhagen (8,3M users): Massive interest as Barcelona thrashed the Danes 4-1 to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16.

3 Napoli vs. Chelsea (5,9M users): A rollercoaster in Naples. Chelsea fought back to win 3-2, eliminating Napoli despite a stunning “Maradona-esque” pirouette goal from Antonio Vergara.

TOP PLAYERS ranked by number of users

1. Jorginho (995K users): The Kairat Almaty midfielder trended globally after scoring a penalty against his former club, Arsenal, at the Emirates Stadium—a major talking point that drove nearly 1 million profile views.

2. Anatoliy Trubin (725K users): The unlikeliest hero. The Benfica goalkeeper’s stoppage-time header against Real Madrid sent his profile traffic into the stratosphere.

3. Andreas Schjelderup (368K users): The 21-year-old Norwegian announced himself to the world with a brace against Real Madrid.

4. Kylian Mbappé (317K users): Even in defeat, the superstar commanded attention and ranked 4th. He scored twice for Madrid, but his team’s collapse was the bigger story.

TOP TEAMS ranking by users:

1. Real Madrid (1,6M users): The “Kings of Europe” falling into the playoff round after a chaotic 4-2 loss drove massive traffic.

2. Benfica (1,1M users): The victors of the night. Their miraculous comeback and “goalkeeper goal” made them the second most-clicked team worldwide.

3. Barcelona (930K users): Solid interest as they cruised to victory and the next round.

Flashscore Global Reach

While Brazil was the single most active nation, the traffic was evenly split across continents: In Europe the huge engagement was driven by fans in Italy, France, Poland, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Germany.
Africa’s continent showed massive interest, led by Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. Football fever also swept across Asia, with significant user numbers from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
The obsession reached the most remote corners of the Earth. Flashscore recorded active users from Antarctica and Christmas Island, proving that even in the most isolated locations, fans refused to miss the drama.

The post Flashscore reveals data behind thrilling night of Champions League action appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Hunter Hunstock

Playersoft Announces Remote Enrollment to Enable Hardware-Agnostic, Cloud-Driven Player Signups Anywhere

Published

8 hours ago

January 29, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

Playersoft has announced Remote Enrollment, a progressive web app that allows casino teams to enroll guests from virtually any location using any mobile hardware. By leveraging a cloud-driven architecture, Remote Enrollment supports true off-site capability for prospecting and remote sign-up.

Why it matters

Traditional enrollment workflows often depend on specific hardware, on-property connectivity, or fixed stations that can create bottlenecks and limit enrollment opportunities outside the property. Remote Enrollment removes those constraints with a hardware-agnostic progressive web app and cloud-driven architecture—while retaining the consistent, intuitive user experience Playersoft is known for.

What Remote Enrollment delivers

• A progressive web app that runs on virtually any mobile hardware—no special devices required.

• Cloud-driven operations to support off-site prospecting and remote signups.

• A dedicated prospecting feature that enables customer communication and information capture without creating accounts or introducing incomplete data into the player system.

• Conversion tracking from prospect to enrolled player to support measurable outreach efforts.

• Configurable security and policy controls aligned to property requirements.

• Integration with Playersoft ONE for operational oversight and reporting.

“Remote Enrollment is about making it easy for our clients to capture new players wherever the opportunity arises—without sacrificing control, data quality, or usability,” said Hunter Hunstock, President at Playersoft.

Availability:

Remote Enrollment is available now as part of the Playersoft ONE ecosystem.

The post Playersoft Announces Remote Enrollment to Enable Hardware-Agnostic, Cloud-Driven Player Signups Anywhere appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

casino industry

Poll: Mississippians Deliver Resounding “No” to Mobile Sports Betting and iGaming

Published

8 hours ago

January 29, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

poll:-mississippians-deliver-resounding-“no”-to-mobile-sports-betting-and-igaming

As Mississippi lawmakers again debate legislation that would expand gambling beyond existing casino properties, new statewide polling and a formal letter from the casino industry deliver a unified message to state leaders: Mississippi voters and casino operators alike oppose the legalization of Online Sports Betting (OSB) and iGaming.

Polling commissioned by the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) in January finds broad resistance to online gambling expansion among Mississippi voters. Nearly three-quarters of voters (74.2%) oppose legalizing mobile sports betting after learning it would allow wagering statewide on smartphones and other devices, an increase from an already negative baseline once voters understand how the proposal would work. Opposition to iGaming is even stronger, rising from 74.1% at baseline to 80.8% after voters learn it would allow 24/7 remote access to casino-style games.

That opposition is echoed in a formal letter issued to state leadership by a coalition of prominent Mississippi casino operators, joined by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Pearl River Resorts. In the January 21 letter, the coalition warns that legalizing OSB and iGaming would undermine the multi-billion-dollar capital investments made by Mississippi’s traditional gaming industry since 1992 and threaten long-term local jobs.

“This data proves that online gambling is a product Mississippi simply does not want. When residents envision what this policy means in practice—the ‘casino in your pocket’ at all hours—they move decisively away from legalization,” said Oliver Barie, Government Relations Director for the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG).

Polling by the Bradley Research Group for NAAiG also shows majority opposition to both proposals across every congressional district and major demographic group, before and after voters receive additional information.

Economic Siphoning and Job Protection

In their letter, the casino coalition highlighted a significant divide within the gaming industry itself. Operators opposing expansion have a substantially greater long-term stake in Mississippi, owning an average of 55% of their total properties in the state, compared with just 22% for operators supporting online expansion.

The coalition identified several key economic risks associated with legalizing OSB and iGaming:

• Revenue Loss: Unlike retail casinos, where revenue stays in-state, OSB allows out-of-state operators to cover corporate overhead first, leaving only minimal fees for in-state partners.

• Job Cannibalization: “In-play” mobile betting threatens to reduce physical foot traffic, leading to weakened casino operations and a reduction in the hospitality workforce.

• Minimal State Benefit: Estimated incremental tax revenue is projected at only $11 million—a figure the coalition deems “not a material amount” against a $7 billion state budget.

A Public Health Crisis

Coalition members also raised serious public health concerns, citing a 67% increase in gambling addiction-related search interest in states with legalized online sports betting and a 30% rise in bankruptcies among low-savings households. Research indicates legalization has led to a 372% increase in irresponsible gambling behavior.

“The people of Mississippi are speaking clearly: they value their communities, their local jobs, and their families more than the minimal tax revenue promised by out-of-state tech companies,” the coalition said.

Letter Signatories

The letter opposing online gambling expansion was signed by representatives from:

Churchill Downs (Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa, River Walk Casino Hotel)

Foundation Gaming & Entertainment (Fitz Casino Hotel, WaterView Casino Hotel)

Full House Resorts (Silver Slipper Casino Hotel)

Gulfside Casino Partnership (Island View Casino Resort)

Palace Casino Resort

Pearl River Resorts (Golden Moon Hotel and Casino)

Saratoga Gaming (Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel)

Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel.

The post Poll: Mississippians Deliver Resounding “No” to Mobile Sports Betting and iGaming appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.