The Dutch Gaming Authority, the regulatory body in the Netherlands, has included 25 gambling websites on its list of sites under scrutiny as part of its new enforcement approach. This strategy mandates that all unlicensed operators prohibit Dutch users from accessing their services.
The regulatory body stated that it will verify if Dutch players can gain access to any of the 25 websites. If they can, penalties will be imposed.
These penalties could target not only website operators but also third parties, such as payment processors and advertising companies that provide services to the websites.
The KSA’s surveillance follows a shift in its approach to unlicensed gambling since the launch of the regulated online market in the Netherlands on October 1st. Previously, operators were only required to avoid specifically targeting the Netherlands, but now they must block all users from the country.
Following the opening of the market, several prominent operators declared they would block Dutch customers. Entain stated that the move would result in a £5 million monthly reduction in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), while Kindred indicated that its EBITDA loss would be £12 million. Other operators that have blocked Dutch customers include LeoVegas, Betsson, Casumo, and 888. However, the KSA highlighted that numerous other operators are still accepting Dutch customers.
Supervisors emphasized that legitimate avenues for operation now exist, and their duty is to direct participants towards authorized providers.
The KSA declared: “The new regulation is motivated by the fact that the revised Gambling Act permits the legal offering of online games of chance starting October 1.” “At authorized providers, participants in games of chance can engage in a secure environment, where games are dependable and there is adequate attention to gambling dependence.”
“The objective of the law is to guide players away from illicit providers and towards legal providers.”
At present, only 10 operators have been granted permission to provide online gambling in the Netherlands.
Bet365, UK-based bingo operator Tombola, and Play North Ltd, which holds licenses in Malta and Estonia, are among the authorized operators, alongside Dutch land-based operator Holland Casino NV and the national lottery Nederlandse Loterij and its TOTO online betting brand.
Janshen Hahnraths Group and its FPO Nederland, Betent from Italy, Belgian brand Bingoal, NSUS Malta (operating the GGPoker.eu brand), and sports media and betting business LiveScore Malta have also been given licenses.
The KSA anticipates receiving up to 40 license applications and expects to approve 35. However, the regulator announced in April that they had received 28 applications.
Numerous online brands are unable to acquire a license because the cooling-off period stipulates that prospective licensees must refrain from offering online games of chance to Dutch consumers for at least two years.
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