Swedish Association Focuses on Dutch Online Gambling Market
Last week, the Swedish trade association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS) organized a seminar focusing on the Dutch market. During the BOS seminar, former chairman of the Dutch trade association NOGA, Peter-Paul de Goeij, who moved to Sweden last year, shared his insights on the online gambling market in the Netherlands.
A week ago, dozens of people from the Swedish gambling industry gathered for a seminar organized by BOS, according to chairman Gustaf Hoffstedt on his LinkedIn page. The webinar, titled “Dutch Disease in the Gambling Market,” focused on developments in the Dutch online gambling market.
The seminar examined the opening of the online gambling market in the Netherlands and the reasons why half of the gambling market has been lost to illegal online casinos. They also discussed the implications for Sweden if a similar situation were to occur and what measures could be taken to prevent it.
Peter-Paul de Goeij Speaks
Peter-Paul de Goeij worked for many years in the Dutch gambling industry as chairman of NOGA. Last summer, he announced his resignation from this position due to his relocation to Sweden.
He remains active as a consultant in the online gambling market through his consultancy company, Quod Bonum. Given his extensive experience with the Dutch market, he took the stage during the seminar to share his perspective. He began by explaining the market dynamics in a country geographically eleven times smaller than Sweden.
He also shared figures from the Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit), including a report indicating that the legal online gambling market’s gross gaming revenue is smaller than that of the illegal online gambling market. De Goeij also reflected on the long-delayed opening of the online gambling market.
Consequences of the Measures
After the opening of the gambling market finally took place, significant measures from politicians quickly led to problems. A ban on role models in gambling advertisements was soon followed by a ban on untargeted gambling advertisements, the introduction of spending limits, and an increase in gambling taxes. He also addressed the findings regarding shortcomings in the duty of care.
In his speech, De Goeij further elaborated on the consequences of the implemented measures, including the stagnation of gross gaming revenue at legal online casinos. He anticipates reduced player protection, further growth of the illegal gambling market, and job losses.
The former NOGA chairman’s conclusions were as follows:
- Consumer protection must remain central.
- Policy must be fact-based and proportional.
- Sustainable regulation requires a competitive legal market.
- Avoid measures that drive players to the illegal market.
After his speech, De Goeij also spoke on stage with Madeleine Tügel, chairwoman of the National Association of Gambling Addicts, and Pontus Lindwall of the gambling company Betsson.
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