888.nl: an intriguing online comeback in the Netherlands
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16 Sep 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes The return of 888.nl to the Dutch online gambling market, announced for September 2025, is causing controversy. Behind this expected reappearance lies a surprising reality: the licence has not been awarded to Evoke, the parent company of the famous operator, but to ComeOn Group.
A controversial reappearance on the Dutch market
The return of 888.nl to the Dutch online gambling market, announced at the beginning of September 2025, has caused much ink to flow. While players were delighted to see a familiar name again, the way in which the operator obtained its licence has raised serious questions.
Instead of being owned directly by its parent company Evoke plc (owner of brands such as William Hill, Mr Green and 888 Casino), the ComeOn group is officially operating the platform. A legal manoeuvre, to be sure, but one that raises doubts about the transparency of the Dutch licensing system.
The shadow of Evoke and a diversion via ComeOn
Three independent sources in the gaming industry indicate that Evoke has failed the integrity check carried out by the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), the regulatory authority. If this were confirmed, the company would not have been able to obtain a licence in the Netherlands in its own name.
To get around this obstacle, the 888.nl brand was relaunched via Godwits Limited, a subsidiary of the ComeOn Group, which already held several local licences. As a result, LivescoreBet, GetLucky, ComeOn Casino and now 888.nl all fall under the ComeOn umbrella.
Unanswered questions
This situation prompted the media outlet CasinoZorgplicht to ask for explanations. Several specific questions were sent to the Ksa:
- Why does Evoke not hold the licence for 888.nl directly?
- How does the legal cooperation between Evoke and ComeOn Group work?
- Does the authority take account of ComeOn’s international disputes, such as the case in Germany where a player never received nearly a million euros despite a favourable court ruling?
Ksa said it would not comment on specific cases or ongoing investigations. The only clarification given was that the Godwits Ltd e-mail address, which is supposed to be used for addiction prevention enquiries, is not working. The authority will look into this. But nothing more.
The silence of the players
On the ComeOn Group side, there is total silence. Despite several reminders sent to various departments, no response has been forthcoming. Not even an acknowledgement of receipt.
As for Evoke, its spokesman, Andy Richards (Hudson Sandler agency), promised clarification. This promise was not kept: the deadline set by CasinoZorgplicht passed without any feedback being provided.
Transparency or opacity?
For the moment, there is no evidence to suggest that 888.nl’s licence was granted irregularly. But the refusal to communicate by the three main players – Ksa, ComeOn Group and Evoke – is fuelling suspicion.
Instead of providing clarification, their silence gives the impression of an opaque system that is reluctant to be accountable. A paradoxical situation for a sector that is supposed to be strictly regulated to protect consumers.
The return of 888.nl could have been simply good news for poker and sports betting fans. But the case has now taken on a wider dimension: that of confidence in the regulated market. If players cannot be sure that operators have gone through rigorous and transparent checks, the very legitimacy of regulation is undermined. And with it, protection against the risks of addiction and financial abuse.