Exclusive: Holland Casino pulls egaming RFP
Tender process to find single supplier of online services launched in February is withdrawn without explanation.
Dutch gambling monopoly Holland Casino has discontinued the tender process to select its online gaming supplier, putting in doubt its plans to award the contract in June.
The operator launched an RFP in February setting out its plans to launch a freeplay online casino, bingo and poker offering by the end of 2013 and real-money versions as soon as it is legally able to do so.
Initial applications were requested by 25 February while the final award date was set for 29 June 2013.
However, interested parties were notified on 23 March that the awarding procedure had been “discontinued”, with the reason given being due to an “incomplete procedure”.
The official note seen by eGaming Review adds that the contract may be the “object of a re-publication”, however detail concerning the reason for the sudden u-turn remains unclear.
Holland Casino, the sole casino operator in the country with 14 properties and around 4,000 staff, was put up for sale in November last year as part of the Dutch government’s privatisation plans.
It is aiming to select a single provider of a backend portal, gaming management platform, a portfolio of slots and table games, a bingo and poker platform and network, and a live dealer solution.
The move came after the Dutch government announced plans to regulate online gambling in October 2012 and is expected to introduce a draft framework for consultation later this month. A parliament-approved law is anticipated by the end of the year, targetting a 2015 market launch.
H2 Gambling Capital estimates annual gross win from a regulated Dutch interactive market, based on its current land-based gaming tax rate of 29%, would reach 177m by 2016. However, if a 15% gross win interactive gambling tax was implemented “ as many expect it will be “ H2 expects the dot.nl market gross win to reach 261m by 2016.