Dutch Regulator Says New Online Licences Almost Ready

The gambling regulator in the Netherlands, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has announced that once the legislation comes into force applicants will be able to obtain their licence. The Netherlands Remote Gambling Act was passed earlier this year and the body has provided more information about what will be required to obtain a licence to operate.

A regulated gambling market is planned for launch in January 2021, just over one year away, but some of the legislation is expected to come into force from next summer.

A change for the Netherlands

The decision from the Dutch senate to approve online gambling means that there will be four difference licences available for purchase. These include casino games where the player is up against the operator (such as table games and slots), online poker and other peer-to-peer casino games, sporting events betting and horse racing and trotting betting.

Anyone wishing to apply for an online licence in any of these areas will have to complete the application in Dutch and pay the fee which is non-refundable. Each application costs €45,000 and if a licence is not granted, this fee will not be returned.

Raft of requirements

It may seem a fairly straightforward matter to obtain the licence but it is not just about proving the operator’s identity. The KSA has a long list of robust requirements that it expects every operator to meet if it wants to offer its services to the Dutch market.

These are wide-ranging and including aspects of Dutch consumer law as well as global legislation on gambling and good practice.

Each operator must demonstrate that it will follow tight rules on checking the identity of customers and have a strict policy which helps to enforce the prevention of fraud. They must agree to work closely with the KSA to prevent match-fixing or corruption within sport and its marketing campaign must be vetted by the regulator in advance.

The KSA also announced that it will be utilising advanced technology so it can be connected to operators at all times. This will take the form of a Control Database which every operator must be linked with. This connection will enable the KSA to check digital data at any time and satisfy itself that rules are being properly adhered to.

With such a long list of requirements to qualify for a licence, the KSA has said it will be running workshops to help operators make sure they’re meeting all the conditions before applying.