Kansspelautoriteit Sets Three Priorities to Focus on Prior to Market Opening in 2021

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gaming regulator has established three key priorities in the year ahead alongside its preparations for the opening of the country’s regulated iGaming market. The official introduction should take place in 2021, and the majority of resources so far were dedicated to preparation for processing licenses, supervision of operator activity and regulations enforcement.

As the momentum is getting closer, the regulator decided to narrow down the list of priorities. Instead of four, KSA plans to pay more attention to this trio of segments: stopping underage play, efforts to prevent addiction and combating illegal gambling and gambling-related crime.

Reflecting on 2019, KSA chair René Jansen referred to it as “historic” for the country’s gambling industry, after the Remote Gambling Act finally ed the country’s legislature after stagnant years, saying that:

“The legalization and regulation of online gambling through a licensing system is undoubtedly the most obvious change from the current situation. But the Remote Gambling Act does more than just adding to and amending the 1964 Gambling Act.”

Enhanced Protection of Minors and Addiction Prevention

As a part of the strategy to protect minors from the harmful effects of gambling, the regulator will monitor licensed operators’ advertising, looking for any elements that may appeal to those aged under 18.

It will also rely on local authorities…

…to ensure gambling devices such as slot machines are not available in outlets where minors usually gather. Whether minors should be permitted to enter gaming arcades that host gambling devices is still left to be discussed.

Moreover, the institution will cooperate with Nederlandse Loterij to ensure underage players cannot access its Toto product.

As for addiction prevention…

…KSA stressed out that current measures in place for gaming arcades and Holland Casino are insufficient. Therefore, all license holders will be required to evaluate whether current processes fulfill their duty of care to customers. The regulator will also inspect Holland Casino’s addiction prevention policy.

Combating Illegal Activities

Continuing to put the same efforts as during 2019, the regulators will keep on monitoring sites that offer their services in the Dutch language, or with Netherlands-only payment methods. It will also collaborate with local authorities to shut down unlicensed land-based facilities.

Jansen stressed:

“In the current law, there is not much more [on player protection] beyond stating that providers of games of chance have a ‘duty of care’. That was perhaps enough to prevent gambling addiction in 1964, but with the current channels of supply, more is necessary.”

Moreover, KSA went public with an improved set of guidelines for anti-money laundering policy, pointing out they should be regularly revised so as to be in accordance with current regulations and policy.

Slapping the Bad Ones with Fines

applying for approval in this market.

In addition to this…

…KSA has already pledged to add a €50,000 on fines imposed on those looking to exploit the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic to promote illegal products.

Even though it seems barely possible to maintain the current prohibition of iGaming, with more than 1m Dutch citizens already gambling online, the regulator will keep putting efforts to keep things under control.

The Dutch market aimed to come into force from 1 January 2021, will have the new regulatory regime will provide better to consumers, ensuring licensees are compliant with regulations, as well as gaining extra powers to crack down on illegal activity.

Source:

“KSA narrows 2020 vision to improve market oversight”, igamingbusiness.com, March 20, 2020.