The Netherlands is preparing to launch its own regulated online gambling market, but operators that wish to obtain licenses will have to show three years’ worth of good behavior. The Remote Gambling act promises to modernise the gambling market in the country since online gambling is still illegal.
The Bill on Remote Gambling was approved by the Senate in February last year and the expected date when the licensees can submit their applications is 1 March, 2021. The date of applications was pushed back from the initial 1 January, 2021. The chairman of the Kansspelautoriteit René Jansen said that once applications are received, it could take up to six months until a properly regulated market is launched.
There are several conditions when applying for the license. Operators have to be affiliated with the Central Exclusion Register (CRUKS) and, according to the Kansspelautoriteit, “have a duty to monitor players’ activity and intervene if risky playing behaviour (such as betting large sums or playing for long periods of time) is observed or suspected”. Operators should also establish a Control Database (CDB) containing current operational data and the regulator should be able to access it.
In the coming months, the Kansspelautoriteit will introduce more regulatory measures and information related to the license applications.
