KSA issues ‘conduct warning’ following covid marketing breaches

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands regulatory authority for gambling, has issued a market warning stating that it will not tolerate ‘COVID-19 gambling advertising’. 

The KSA stated that it has taken 14 direct actions against unlicensed online operators advertising ‘Corona-Free Gambling messages’ during national lockdown.

René Jansen, KSA Chairman, said that the regulatory agency will ‘apply the heaviest penalties’ against offending operators, branding their illegal marketing practices as ‘completely objectionable behaviour‘. 

The KSA issued its warning as the Dutch government moves to open its initial licensing window on 1 January 2021, screening online gambling incumbents applying to join the regulated Netherlands online gambling marketplace from 1 July 2021 according to the laws of the Remote Gambling Act.  

Jansen has reiterated the KSA’s prior warning to applying parties that the previous conduct and behaviour of operators will be a core condition in which operators are approved by the governing body.

July saw the final mandate of the Remote Gambling Act forwarded to the European Commission (EU), who will review the legislation in-line with European-wide business practices and fair-market competition laws. 

The final act presented to the EC contained last-minute amendments drafted by Netherlands Legal Protection Minister Sander Dekker, who placed new conditions on the use of historical databases and further executive management responsibilities amid technical specifications related to igaming software and customer safeguards.