Legislation
The Netherlands – KSA confirms Dutch market will licence 35 online gaming companies
By Phil - 23 March 2021
Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit has confirmed in its 2020 Annual Report that it will launch a total of 35 online gaming licences.
From 1 April, the Ksa will start processing applications for an online gambling license, after which the market in the Netherlands for online games of chance will open on 1 October. The preparations for this have largely determined the activities in 2020.
René Jansen, Chairman of the Ksa said: “The Games of Chance Act, our current legal framework, dates from 1964. There was no question of digitization at the time. It was therefore high time for the Remote Gambling Act (Koa), which in fact supplements and changes the current law.”
The Koa Act gives the Ksa a whole new market to supervise. This means that, in addition to handling license applications, the Ksa is also preparing for the situation that will arise if the market for online games of chance is open. The Ksa expects to issue approximately 35 online gaming licenses. These will mainly be companies that operate internationally. Preparations for the supervision of online gambling providers started in 2020. This is also reported in the 2020 Annual Report.
The 2020 Annual Report also pays attention to, among other things, the strategy process followed by the Ksa. As a result, the Ksa sharpened its mission. It was ‘Safe play in a fair market’ and has now been refined to ‘Play safe’.
Mr. Jansen added: “Ultimately, our work revolves around the interests of the player, of the consumer. A fair market remains an important objective, but is above all a means to allow consumers to play safely.”
The Koa Act was passed by the Senate in February 2019. Since then, efforts have been made to implement the law. The Koa Act legalizes and regulates online games of chance under strict conditions. Moreover, the Koa Act means that all (including country-bound) providers of high-risk games of chance will have additional requirements in the field of addiction prevention. Furthermore, the Koa Act introduces new requirements for advertising and recruitment. From April, these will apply to all providers of games of chance, including the less risky ones such as lotteries. In the new situation, the Ksa will be given additional powers to tackle illegal activities.
Caption: René Jansen
