The Netherlands Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit, has made it clear on multiple occasions over the course of its five-year existence that it would not make compromise with violations of its online gambling rules and that it would always aim to implement rules that punish wrongdoers and serve players’ best interests.
However, its latest set of online gambling rules have raised the industry’s eyebrows not only because of their sudden appearance, but also because of the fact that these practically block the provision of iGaming services to Dutch players.
A recent press release by the Gaming Authority made it known that it would impose further limitations as to who and how can provide iGaming options to Dutch players. The new set of rules came into effect today, June 1.
So far, the provision of online gambling services was prohibited for operators that were offering Dutch-language service and were using an .nl extension. What is more, such operators were not allowed to promote their offering on television, radio, or in print media.
The Dutch gambling regulatory body has apparently decided to ramp up its watchdog functions with the newly introduced policy that now affects not only operators, but also their affiliates. Under the new rules, promotional websites that use an .nl web extension and redirect visitors to a .com website could, too, be scolded by the Gaming Authority.
What is more, the use of Dutch-sounding brands or of one typically Dutch symbol or another are also prohibited by the regulator. The rules also encompass a prohibition on the facilitated use of Dutch payment methods. It has also become clear that gambling companies that fail to prevent Dutch players from reaching an online gaming or betting website will face fines or other forms of punishment for their breach.
The Gaming Authority’s witch-hunt is not something unheard of within the industry. However, such measures against operators running their business in gray markets, as the Dutch pracitcally iGaming market is, usually result in unpleasant consequences not only for the operators, but also for the players.
There has long been big demand for iGaming services among Dutch players. On the other hand, the new set of rules will rather unsurprisingly scare off licensed operators (operators holding licenses from Malta and similar jurisdictions). Thus, it will be much easier for murky, unlicensed, businesses to claim local players, to prey upon them.
Meanwhile, an online gambling bill has been stuck in the Dutch Senate for a year now and there are not bright signals that it will move forward anytime soon. The bill was passed by the House in June 2016 with big margin. It was believed that it would not take long before the Senate voted on it. However, proponents of the effort now fear that the legislative effort may have lost its support in the Dutch legislature’s upper house.
