888 pulls Dutch affiliate marketing activities
Operator asks affiliates to stop all Dutch marketing following recent regulatory warnings to numerous online sportsbooks
888 has requested members of its affiliate programme to cease all marketing activities directed at the Dutch market following warnings to sports betting firms from the country’s gambling regulator.
Speaking with eGaming Review, 888’s chief operating officer Itai Frieberger confirmed the message sent to affiliates was the “result of a request by the Dutch regulator”.
“They are working towards regulation but in the meantime they came forward to the industry with different requests in which case we take actions and comply,” he said.
“I hope the market will open soon,” Frieberger added.
In a message to affiliates, 888 said the decision was the result of “recent developments” in the Netherlands and has asked affiliates to refrain from marketing for either Dutch or international sporting events.
“This includes any marketing activities in the Dutch language; any marketing activities on websites with Dutch TLD URLS; or any marketing activity related to Dutch sporting events,” the message said.
“If you already promote 888sport please remove any marketing materials of 888sport that fall within the aforementioned definition and refrain from placing or otherwise disseminating any such marketing materials in the future,” the message added.
The news follows letters sent by the Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) ahead of the FIFA World Cup to eight online sports betting operators, warning that advertising to Dutch residents is in breach of the Gaming Act.
Following the letters the Dutch Gaming Authority said it would continue to monitor all marketing activity and that any firm breaking the law could face implications when they seek a licence in the country at a later date.
The Dutch Remote Gambling Bill was recently presented to the country’s House of Representatives with a view to opening its online gambling market in Q2 2015.
However, the Bill has recently come under attack from the Netherlands’ land-based gambling sector which has mounted a legal challenge against the bill’s split tax rate of 20% for online operators and 29% for brick and mortar operations.
After announcing 13% growth in H1 2014 revenues yesterday, 888 CEO Brian Mattingley indicated that 888 was planning on entering the soon-to-be regulated Dutch market.