Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ official iGaming regulator, has shared further information about how it plans to regulate international gambling operators.
The governing body plans to start accepting licences from next July, with a view to opening the country’s online gambling market in 2021.
Dutch iGaming licence types
There will be four different available licences. These include casino games, where consumers play against the operator (i.e. slots and table games), as well as peer-to-peer casino games (such as online poker). There will also be licences for sports betting, and a separate one for horse racing.
All applications must be written in Dutch and will cost €45,000 each, which is non-refundable. A Dutch translation must also be included for all additional documents. The payment must be made prior to submission, and the applicant’s identity also needs to be clear. Only completed applications will be processed and, if necessary, further additional information can be requested later by the KSA.
Operators also have to show that they can provide their services in a responsible manner. That includes having a strategy in place to protect players against gambling addiction and giving staff relevant training. This needs to have been developed with the help of industry experts, and with the Dutch addiction care system in mind.
Responsibilities
In line with the above, advertising strategies must also be shared. Operators must identify how their ads will neither be misleading, nor aggressive. They must also not target vulnerable people or encourage inappropriate play. Additionally, brands must share their player bonus terms and conditions. This is important for affiliates, since they also need to know what they can and can’t show on their website(s).
Decisions to grant a licence could be affected if an operator has links to criminal activity or other malicious behaviours. The operator must not have been declared bankrupt in the past, nor had its payments suspended or assets seized.
Brands seeking a Dutch expansion must also demonstrate a clear plan to educate employees on the Netherlands’ gambling rules. Players’ funds must be held separate from working capital. Operators might be considered if they work with either third-party funds or a bank guarantee.
Outsourcing is allowed, unless the law states that the specific partnership isn’t permitted. It’s up to the operator to show that they understand the related risks, and what they plan to do about this. They also need to guarantee that their partner is reliable and suitable for the specific partnership. The supplier also needs to agree that they’ll comply with the KSA’s legal needs.
