In this interview with CalvinAyre.com, Lottovate Nederland B.V.’s Peter-Paul De Goeij tells Rebecca Liggero how the lottery market landscape in the Netherlands has evolved today.
The Netherlands still has an untapped potential for growth in the lottery field.
There are currently about 12 lotteries operating in the country, which might seem quite a lot compared to its European neighbors. But according to Lottovate Nederland B.V.’s Peter-Paul De Goeij, the Dutch market is actually behind its counterparts.
“If you compare the Netherlands in the average spend per capita on lottery products, the Netherlands is actually lagging behind. It’s below the European average, [but] we see a great potential in the charity lottery field,” De Goeij told CalvinAyre.com.
He also pointed out that once the merger between the state-owned De Lotto and Staatsloterij pushes through, it will bring down the number of operators in the country. This, in turn, is a good news for new lottery providers interested in entering the Dutch market.
“The Staatsloterij and De Lotto, they’re going to merge into one lottery provider, so actually the field of operators is decreasing. Also, three of the major charity lotteries by the same company called Novamedia, so basically, that’s one company holding three licenses. That narrows it down further, so we actually see great potential for new lottery providers in the Dutch market,” De Goeij explained.
There’s also the possibility of introducing—and eventually moving—lottery players into some of the online games, but De Geoij believes it’s a path operators will have to tread carefully.
“It should be crystal clear to the player that he is, in fact, playing lottery. And if it walks like a lottery, talks like a lottery, it usually is lottery. That should remain the case,” De Goeij noted. “I think the traditional lottery provider should be very careful to move into that direction. It’s fine, I think as long as you keep the company separated—lottery company with the proceeds going to charities and sports or state coffers, and an online gambling company which has a different business model.”
