The legalization of online gambling in the Netherlands has been a long time coming and has suffered from repeated setbacks.
Initially, the launch of online gambling was scheduled for January 1, 2020. In November 2019, the Dutch gaming authority Kansspelautoriteit announced that the launch date would be delayed because the Minister of Justice and Security informed the lower house of parliament that the government needed more time to draft secondary legislation on gambling.
Recently, another delay was announced, due to complications and delays in preparations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first week of September, Minister Dekker warned of further delays, explaining that the Remote Gaming Law is expected to take effect on March 1, 2021 and the market to open on September 1.
The future of online casinos in the Netherlands
The Dutch government has been busy following the transition to a regulated market, including submitting its online game plan to the European Commission for approval. The KSA recently partnered with its counterparts in Malta to ensure tighter oversight of online gambling operations.
One of the most restrictive measures announced by the Dutch government is the requirement that online license applicants delete customer databases that many operators accumulated during their unauthorized activity. The intention is for all online licensees to start with a clean slate to ensure a fully competitive market from day one.
Four different licenses will be available on the Dutch market, for casino games where consumers play against the operator, for peer-to-peer casino games (online poker) and licenses will also be offered to bet on sporting events and on horse races.
The new regulations restrict bonuses, while operators will not be able to advertise gambling-related services between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. This also applies to pay and play casinos, such as Snelle casinos, which are those casinos that are Trustly's pay and play solutions that are rapidly gaining popularity due to their secure but efficient registration and payment processes.
Online casinos must strictly follow the new marketing guidelines to ensure that they can maintain their gaming license. The KSA will evaluate each request to determine if the operator offers its services in a responsible, reliable and verifiable manner.
In terms of marketing, casinos must disclose their advertising strategy to the KSA, approaching advertising responsibly, preventing ads from being misleading and aggressive. To comply with Dutch consumer protection laws, they must have a complaints system, while operators who obtain sports betting licenses must agree to work with the KSA to help identify match-fixing.
In order to maintain the new effective date and not delay further, in addition to the completion of the TRIS notification procedure, the Dutch State Council will still have to give its opinion on the Decree. Before the Draft Law enters into force, the Ministry will officially publish the final versions of the Decree and Regulation.
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