SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Kambi has secured a much needed win in Europe via an extended partnership with JVH Group, one of the Netherlands’ biggest online gaming operators, coming after US headwinds bit into Q1 earnings.
The B2B betting solutions provider will continue to provide JVH’s JOI Gaming, and its flagship sportsbook property JACKS.NL with its turnkey sportsbook platform and Kambi Engine, the latter being the supplier’s third-party supplier ecosystem.
Kambi asserts that its support for JOI and JACKS.NL since the duo first partnered up back in 2020 has enabled the latter companies to become established as leading players in the highly competitive Dutch online gaming space.
The five-year run of the partnership saw the firms navigate the complexities of Dutch market re-regulation in October 2021, a process which involved JACKS.NL becoming one of the first 10 licence holders in the Netherlands’ new online betting marketplace.
Eric Olders, CEO of JVH and Founder of JOI Gaming, said: “Kambi’s premium sportsbook has been instrumental in allowing us to become a go-to destination for sports bettors in the Netherlands.
“Their commitment to innovation and providing a top-tier product aligns perfectly with our vision for JACKLS.NL. Extending this partnership was a natural step, and we are excited to continue building on our strong momentum and further enhancing our online sports betting offering alongside Kambi.”
What’s going down in Dutch betting?
Just under five years since Kambi’s first deal with JOI and four years since the Dutch market re-regulation, the Netherlands has become a much more fiercely competitive space with the number of operators alone tripling.
The huge increase in revenue and advertising spend as a result has led to politicians paying much closer attention to the industry. Although a regulatory review has temporarily been shelved due to the recent collapse of the Dutch government, legislative and regulatory changes are still a distinct possibility.
“This change of direction is partly driven by the idea that current policies do not currently protect people adequately,” said Renske Fikkers, Head of the Regulatory Department at the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), at the Gaming in Holland conference this month.
“This simply means one thing: laws and regulations will become stricter and operators’ room for manoeuvre will be further restricted.”
Kambi shores up European position
JACKS.NL may be keen to ensure that it has a steady supply of sportsbook solutions support as it navigates these changes. Meanwhile, the deal also means that Kambi maintains a strong portfolio across Europe, coming after a mixed performance in Q1.
The partnership with JVH sits alongside some of Kambi’s other flagship European commercial arrangements with the likes of Sweden’s Svenska Spel and ATG and the Belgian National Lottery.
These European deals may prove invaluable moving forward, with Kambi’s strong performance in Europe, particularly from football, solidly offsetting some difficulties faced in the US during Q1 trading.
“We are delighted to extend our valued partnership with JVH group,” added Werner Becher, CEO of Kambi.
“The success of JACKS.NL since its launch is a testament to the quality of their brand and operational expertise, combined with the power and flexibility of Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook.
“We look forward to continuing to support their growth and helping them deliver premium sports betting experiences to their players for years to come.”
