The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), is considering enforcing gambling spending limits on online gambling in an attempt to protect players from harm and promote responsible gambling.
The idea comes from KSA chairman Rene Jansen, who was urging the Dutch government to introduce the measures while speaking at a conference of the European Association for the Study of Gambling (EASG). He said that tighter limits imposed by the Dutch government should help to aid harmful gambling behaviour. However, he also added that it wasn’t enough.
During his speech he said that he thought that the duty of care of operators wasn’t going far enough in simply applying a limit and “sitting back” until the player has reached that limit.
Backing up his points with research by the KSA, Jansen suggested that the Netherlands isn’t yet going as far as other regulated markets in Europe to protect users from harm and put forward the government enforced spending limits, rather than the current suggestions of a limit, to try to curb harmful gambling behaviour.
KSA chairman Rene Jansen said: “I increasingly wonder whether we offer sufficient protection and safety to players with the current interpretation of the duty of care,” Jansen said. “I see that the behaviour of gambling providers still leaves a lot to be desired.
“Tightening up the duty of care is therefore not an unnecessary luxury and we can learn from other countries, but the ultimate choice lies with the legislator.”
