SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has published its ‘2020 Annual Report’, detailing the new standards and laws which will radically overhaul the Dutch online gambling market with the implementation of the ‘Remote Gambling Act’ (KOA Act) regime during 2021.
Moving to launch the KOA Act’s licensing window on Thursday 1 April, KSA revealed that it has received a total of 40 licence applications from foreign and domestic incumbents seeking to launch online gambling services.
Overseeing KOA’s licensing process, KSA anticipates granting 35 online gambling licences, to be issued during the course of 2021 proceedings.
From 1 April, the regulator will start processing applications for licences before the Dutch online gambling market officially launches on 1 October.
KSA has reiterated its previous warning, that it will carry the strictest due diligence of market applicants, in which the regulatory agency will review operators’ standards with regards to corporate conduct, compliance and social responsibility duties.
Safer gambling and consumer protections are reaffirmed as KSA’s top objectives in relation to the launch and success of the KOA regime.
”’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,” said KSA Chairman René Jansen.
Prior to launching online gambling services on 1 October, KSA will demand a technical inspection of approved operators to ensure their platforms are connected to the CRUKS self-exclusion database.
In addition, licensed operators must ensure that their systems are integrated with the KSA central database, monitoring all operator transactions and customer sign-ups.
Further to its technical requirements, KSA maintained that all KOA applicants must register their ‘Dutch officer’, who will be the legal representative of the business within the Netherlands.
This March, KSA appointed the three bodies which will operate its gambling harm prevention and addiction support services across the country, working with Dutch national health services.
Preparing for a transformative 2021, KSA has changed the mission statement of the KOA regime from ‘play safe in a fair market’ to a shortened ‘Play safe’ tagline.
