The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) is once again financing four information projects on the risks of gambling, from the Addiction Prevention Fund (VPF). This involves a continuation of the e-learning gambling problem, the development of additional materials on gambling within the Helder op School programme, information for football players via the VVCS and explanations about gambling on Steffie.nl.

The money for these projects comes from the VPF, which was established in 2021 and is financed by an additional gambling levy on providers of risky games of chance. The Gaming Authority manages this fund and works with various partners in the field of gambling addiction prevention on the spending of the resources. The VPF has multiple spending objectives, including information about the risks of gambling.

E-learning early detection of gambling problems

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Jellinek has developed a digital training offer for professionals together with GGZ Ecademy to inform them about addiction problems in online gambling. This includes first-line professionals such as doctors, POH GGZ, psychologists and debt counselors. This way they can better and earlier identify a gambling addiction. This e-learning module was launched during a well-attended webinar. The newly provided funding will further increase the name recognition of the module.

Clear at school: gambling

Helder op school is a prevention programme of the Trimbos Institute that supports schools in promoting a healthy lifestyle and preventing risky behaviour among pupils and students on themes such as alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Previously, the Trimbos Institute developed materials to improve the signaling of and guidance for risky or problematic gambling behaviour among MBO students. This project is now being extended and expanded with, among other things, scripts for parent evenings on this theme and teaching materials to discourage gambling.

Prevention and information for football players via VVCS

The Association of Contract Players (VVCS) visits the player groups of all Ere- and Eerste Divisie clubs, including the U-21 and U-19 selections, to provide information about problematic gambling behaviour. A flyer with information about the Gambling Stop is now being added to the existing information offer of VVCS and Gamban software, which can block gambling sites. VVCS also starts training ex-players with addiction problems to become experts by experience. They will then be deployed to provide information during selection visits.

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Explanation about gambling on Steffie.nl (delivery: autumn 2025)

Steffie.nl explains all kinds of subjects in understandable language. This makes it an important platform for people with low literacy and people with a mild intellectual disability. Commissioned by the Ksa, the Stichting Leer Zelf Online is working on four modules on the subject of gambling, namely “What is gambling?”, “Addicted to gambling”, “Self-test gambling” and “Recognizing gambling games”. These modules can then be found on Steffie.nl.

KSA underlines the importance of targeted information about the risks of gambling for different target groups through these four projects. On the one hand, the KSA wants to make young people and young adults aware of these risks and on the other hand, enable healthcare professionals, but also footballers, to do more with this subject because of the exemplary role they fulfill for many people.

The Macau Government has appointed Ng Wai Han, who was serving as Director of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP), as Director of the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).

Ng had served as head of the Public Administration Bureau since September 2023, following a three-year stint as Deputy Director.

Between 1999 and 2020, Ng rose through the ranks of the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) to the position of Deputy Director.

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With this appointment, the reshuffling of DICJ’s leadership team is now complete. The position of Director had remained vacant since 20 December last year, when her predecessor, Adriano Marques Ho, became Director General of the Macau Customs. Deputy Director Lio Chi Chong had been serving as Acting Director in the interim.

Lei Seak Chio, who, like Ng, previously worked at DSAL, was appointed one of DICJ’s Deputy Directors in February, replacing Peter Chui.

Compliance managers of the Merkur Group attended a two-day workshop at Schloss Benkhausen, the company’s own training centre at its headquarters in Espelkamp. The aim was to global compliance challenges together, develop successful strategies and promote company-wide exchange. The participants came from 13 countries.

“Regulatory requirements are increasing from year to year. It is therefore all the more important that we are in constant dialog within the company and benefit from the perspectives and experiences of others,” said Ludwig Beckmann, Chief Compliance Officer of the Merkur Group.

An important topic at the event was the presentation of the Group’s newly created central risk management system. The focus is on optimizing existing systems and developing a holistic risk management system that integrates the areas of “Legal”, “Audit” and “Business Operations”, among others. Subsequently, the careful examination of customers (know-your-customer checks) and business partners (due diligence checks) in the individual companies was discussed in working groups.

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In order to improve the legal overview, the concept of a Group-wide central register documenting all relevant legal disputes of the Merkur Group was explained. This can be helpful in responding more accurately to official requirements in licensing procedures. While the UK compliance team then presented the UK Gaming Authority’s draft legislation with a view to the regulatory peculiarities, another topic of discussion was how the reporting procedure for breaches of the compliance principle could be made even more effective.

“The measures and strategic guidelines developed form a solid basis for the continuous development of the company’s global compliance culture,” Ludwig Beckmann added.

The compliance managers from the UK, Malta, Spain, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Croatia, Belgium, Australia, Colombia and Peru came to East Westphalia for the meeting.