Affiliate Compliance
Largest Dutch poker affiliate complies with regulatory changes post introduction of new Dutch gambling law
PokerKamers.nl, one of the Netherlands’ first and largest poker affiliate sites, introduced a new policy that fully complies with the regulatory changes that came in effect after the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit/ KSA) introduced its set of rules for operators to offer legal poker in the Netherlands.
As of October 2021, PokerKamers.nl, a Dutch spoken website existing since 2006, launched its new website. The founders introduced a policy to comply with new regulations, after the new Dutch gambling law took effect on October 1st of 2021.
“Being fully compliant meant saying farewell to online poker sites that did not receive a license to legally operate in the Netherlands; this includes renowned sites like partypoker and bwin, as parent company Entain’s initial application got rejected,” said PokerKamers.nl founder Joris Koningsberg.
Entain plc, one of the world’s largest gambling/ gaming, poker, and betting operators, did not receive a license to offer their brands in the Netherlands, including their online poker sites, because they continued to accept Dutch customers after the market closed due to the Dutch Remote Gambling Act (Kansspel op Afstand/ KOA) on April 1st of 2021.
“It was an easy decision, because the only other option was working with illegal poker sites. And besides, one of our favorite partners (ed: Hillside plc’s bet365) did receive their license,” said Joris Koningsberg.
Meanwhile, all Entain brands now comply to the Dutch Gambling Authority’s cooling off period and the company is expected to obtain a license in the first half of 2022.
With the decision to be fully compliant to Dutch law and regulations, PokerKamers.nl also improved the overall quality of its website. A new look and feel, a comprehensive audit of all existing pages and many new, were completed before the launch of their new website.
“And there is more,” said PokerKamers.nl co-owner Oscar Oosterling, “We have added a poker course, several tools including a tournament filter and the M-Calculator, and poker cheat sheets. And our to-do list is only getting bigger.”
PokerKamers.nl is a website to keep on your radar the next few months. New gambling licenses will be issued, and this website will only list the very best of them. You can expect continuous updates and new features that improve the overall quality and user experience. And with PokerKamers.nl being a compliant poker affiliate, you can rest assured that you’re not going to be misled into signing up with shady – or illegal poker sites.
Affiliate Compliance
Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association Announces Appointment of George Rover as Executive Director
Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association, the industry trade coalition that advocates for reasonable regulation, responsible advertising, and consumer protection has appointed George Rover as its first Executive Director to lead the organization. Comprising of six major players in the US online gambling affiliate sector, the Association includes Better Collective, Catena Media, FairPlay Sports Media, Gambling.com Group, Spotlight Sports Group, and XLMedia PLC.
As Executive Director, Rover will be responsible for executing the RGAA’s long-term mission to safeguard responsible gambling marketing and advertising practices. His duties as Executive Director will be pivotal in shaping the future of responsible affiliate practices, advocating the needs and interests of the Group’s members, promoting sensible regulation, fostering collaboration with industry stakeholders, and advocating for the highest standards of integrity.
“In the spirit of collaboration – whether it be with state regulators, politicians, legislators or online gambling operators, I look forward to working with key stakeholders and will champion the critical role affiliate companies play in the regulated online gambling ecosystem,” said Rover. “The formation of the RGAA will provide this essential segment of the industry with an important and constructive voice to promote responsible gambling, prioritizing the best interests of consumers through a unified set of high standards and guidelines to achieve long-term success.”
Prior to joining the RGAA, Rover held numerous senior positions with the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE). At the NJDGE, Rover oversaw the agency’s Service Industry Licensing, Casino Prosecutions, Internet Gaming and Technical Services Bureaus. During his tenure, he directed the successful launch of Internet Gaming in New Jersey and supervised some of the NJDGE’s most complex licensing and organized crime investigations and prosecutions.
After his retirement from government service, Rover also worked closely with the industry’s leading gaming companies to form the Sports Wagering Integrity Monitoring Association (SWIMA), a national non-profit organization with the mission to detect and discourage fraud and other illegal activity related to betting on sporting events. In addition to his role with the RGAA, Rover will continue to support companies in the gaming industry through his strategic gaming advisory company, Princeton Global Strategies.
“We are thrilled to welcome George Rover to the RGAA family,” said Katie McCord, Chair of the Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association. “His unparalleled expertise, spanning decades in casino and sports betting law, will undoubtedly elevate our organization. George’s substantial contributions to the industry, including spearheading initiatives like SWIMA, showcase his commitment to integrity and innovation.”
Rover will participate in a fireside chat at the Next.io Online Gambling and Sports Betting Summit in New York on March 4 to discuss the dangers of the offshore and unregulated market which continues to target consumers in the US who still lack education regarding legitimate operators.
Affiliate Compliance
AFFILIATE QUALITY MARK LAUNCHED FOR 6 REGULATED MARKETS
At XY Legal Solutions, founder of the Dutch ‘Keurmerk Verantwoorde Affiliates (KVA)’ (https://kva.nl/), we have decided to launch the Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (QMRA, https://qmra.eu/) for 6 regulated markets:
Spain, Norway, The United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
The procedure works as follows: the affiliate applies (per website) through our contact form, after which the QMRA Team will review the website. QMRA has Compliance Codes per market on which the reviews will be based. These QMRA Compliance Codes are a distillation of the law in the named markets, relevant for affiliates. The yearly fee for QMRA membership per website is set at 695,- Euro’s (VAT excluded), 595,- when a company offers three or more websites.
The decision to launch this new Quality Mark stems from the tremendous success of KVA. The Dutch situation has demonstrated the need for an affiliate quality mark. No country has a quality mark like KVA. We now aim to change that.
Compliance demands for iGaming are growing for all regulated markets. For affiliates, it is becoming more and more important to show they are able to keep up with compliance standards. A quality mark helps affiliates demonstrate to operators that they are trustworthy. Next to that, the QMRA compliance procedures will help the affiliate to understand relevant legislation.
Launching websites are: CasinoHawks.Com (Game Lounge) and BetterWorldCasinos.Com (Coherentes)
Affiliate Announcements
bet365 Strengthens Responsible Gambling Stance with Renewed Rightlander Partnership
bet365 has announced the extension of their partnership contract with Rightlander, the foremost provider of innovative affiliate compliance solutions.
The agreement underscores bet365’s sustained dedication to promoting responsible gambling and ensuring the highest level of affiliate compliance. Since the partnership began, Rightlander’s cutting-edge compliance tools have been instrumental in assisting bet365 to maintain ethical advertising standards and abide by the strict regulatory landscape.
“We are excited to renew our contract with Rightlander,” said a spokesperson from bet365. “Their comprehensive compliance solution has become an integral part of our affiliate program. The extended partnership reinforces our commitment to responsible gambling and our dedication to providing a secure and fair environment for all our customers.”
The Rightlander platform offers a host of advanced features, and the technology is designed to facilitate compliance with evolving gambling regulations, a fundamental aspect of bet365’s operations.
Rightlander’s Head of Customer Success, Nicole Mitton, expressed her enthusiasm about the ongoing partnership, stating, “We’re delighted to extend our relationship with bet365. This renewed agreement is a testament to the effectiveness of our compliance solutions, and we look forward to continuing to help bet365 promote responsible gambling and adhere to regulatory requirements.”
The extended contract is expected to further strengthen the robust compliance infrastructure at bet365 and drive innovation in affiliate compliance within the online gambling industry. This strategic partnership will continue to provide an example for industry standards of affiliate compliance, further solidifying the companies’ shared commitment to promoting responsible gambling practices.