Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has hit out at online casinos using the coronavirus outbreak to target land-based players in the country.
The Dutch gambling regulator sent out a strong warning, mentioning that it could have an impact on iGaming licence applications.
“Completely objectionable”
On Tuesday, the KSA released a notice (in Dutch) saying that it had become aware of “additional activities by illegal online gambling providers and their advertisers.”
KSA Chairman René Jansen referred to these casinos’ marketing measures as “completely objectionable”. The operators in question, who reportedly hold international licenses, attempted to attract Dutch players through “what is known as a Corona-free offering”.
While the responsible casinos were not named, Jansen said that similar actions “will weigh heavily in a possible application” for the country’s regulated online market. The licensing progress is expected to commence on January 1st 2021, with the view of operators launching their Dutch offerings six months later.
It was recently revealed that the Remote Gaming Act‘s ‘cooling-off period’ in the Netherlands would be extended. Through this, operators that have illegally targeted players in the past would be banned from applying for licences straight away. In particular, brands that have tried to reach Dutch players after July 1st 2017 will have to wait before being allowed to join the regulated space.
Lockdown
Like many other European countries, such as Spain, the Netherlands has gone into lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
All 14 of Holland Casino’s retail branches have also locked their doors – hence online casinos looking to take advantage.
Restaurants, bars and cafes have all been closed too.
As of Monday, 17th March, 1,705 coronavirus cases had been reported in the Netherlands. This had led to 43 deaths at that time.
Compared to other nations, and contrary to the perception that the disease is only harmful to the elderly, over half of intensive care coronavirus patients in the Netherlands are below the age of 50.
The Dutch government has said that it will do “all it can” to keep national airline KLM in business, after AirFrance-KLM announced that it would ground almost all of its planes for the next two months.
