Renè Jansens Addresses the Current State of iGaming in Holland

René Jansen, Chairman of the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA), gave a speech at the annual conference of Gaming in Holland on 8 June 2023.

In his speech, he raised several important issues, the key among them being the forthcoming ban on untargeted advertising for online games of chance due to come into effect on 1 July 2023. This, he said, was of particular importance given uncertainty over the upcoming regulations changes.

He also addressed the substantial growth of the legal online gambling market and the increasing responsibility of stakeholders, specifically the duty of care of all licence holders and their investigation into implementing the duty of care in practice. 

Jansen provided updates on their experiences with the monitoring databases - the data vaults of the operators and the upcoming information campaign on the exclusion register, Cruks.

The Dutch online gambling market expected a trend growth of 13 to 15% over the following years.        

 Untargeted Advertising Ban

The ban on untargeted advertising for online games of chance comes into effect on 1 July 2023 to better protect vulnerable groups, including young people, against the risk of gambling addiction. The KSA is responsible for monitoring compliance and informing licence holders of changes in the regulations. 

Recruitment and advertising should not reach minors, young adults and vulnerable persons. Advertising on TV, radio, newspapers and magazines is prohibited, as well as billboards, bus shelters and buildings accessible to the public. Advertising via the Internet, direct mailing, on-demand TV, social media, or in the online gaming environment is permitted under certain strict conditions. 

Sponsorships are also a form of untargeted advertising and also fall under the prohibition, with all deals concluded before 1 July 2023 entering a transitional period extending to 1 July 2024. Athletic sponsorships, sports teams, competitions and shirt sponsorships will continue until 1 July 2025. 

 Vaults of Dutch Gambling Data

The data vault systems are also known as CBDs. The Dutch Betting and Gambling Act obliges operators to have their data vaults in proper order. The data from these vaults show the KSA how operators implement their duty of care and obligations under Anti Money Laundering regulations.

In February, the KSA stated that a number of operators' vaults were not in order, and they were still accommodating when the market for online gambling opened, but that period was now over. It was understood that providing real-time data in the right format entailed technical challenges but that there had been sufficient time to meet those challenges. Failure to meet requirements could lead to suspension or revocation of licences. 

There is no room for compromise, the data vault is an essential part of the requirements a licenced operator must fulfil, as it is crucial for a safe market where players are protected.  

 Duty of Care Requirements

An integral part of the optimal protection of the player is the duty of care. The KSA started an investigation into the duty of care compliance, as they felt operators interpreted their obligations in different ways. The results of this investigation will be released soon in 2023. 

The KSA firstly discussed an addiction prevention policy and implementation in operations by licenced operators and, in the final phase, had talks with operators regarding player files provided

Confidence in the online gaming industry is fragile, and operators need to contribute to regaining that confidence.   

 Addressing Illegal Gambling Offers

Being allowed to offer online gambling services in a legal market entails many responsibilities. 

How do you survive as an operator in the Dutch online gambling market? Besides a viable market position, there should be a tough approach to illegal operators. The KSA will continue expanding their enforcement department to tackle illegal operators with more vigour. 

 Cruks Exclusion Register

The Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen (CRUKS) is a gambling self-exclusion system and database in Holland, used to maintain a list of users who have decided to exclude themselves from gambling. It is also used to stop users from registering and playing with licenced operators. 

It is managed by the KSA and used to protect and keep users safe, as well as create a compliant, safe and responsible gaming environment by working with licenced operators.

 A Market On the Move

KSA sees that the gambling market is in motion. Measures like the advertising ban are challenging to operators, yet everyone is aware that regulation and seemingly tough measures are necessary for the gambling industry. The risks associated with gambling should be kept to an absolute minimum. 

From a business perspective, prospects are looking increasingly good for operators, the market is growing, and as stated in the Monitoring Report, trend-related growth is expected to reach 13-15% in the next few years. 

Channelisation is proceeding well, with 92% of Dutch online gamblers only playing with legal operators.

Licence holders themselves play an important role in the development of the online gambling market in the Netherlands. It is important for Dutch players to refrain from supporting the illegal market, and it requires the joint responsibility of the industry to guarantee a prosperous future for the iGaming sector in Holland.