KSA Makes More Time for Player Protection Consultation

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the national gaming regulator of the Netherlands, initially designated the 9th November 2020 as the cut-off date to receive responses for its proposed new player protection rules.

That deadline date has now been pushed back to the 13th of November after the regulator received numerous requests for more time. The proposals are to set to form part of the country’s new Remote Gambling Act, which will come into effect on 1 March 2021.

This Act will officially legalise online gambling within the Netherlands.

 What Do the New Proposals Look Like?

Several new rules are being proposed. Some of the more prominent ones include a ban on all types of time-limited bonuses, as well as a condition that game operators perform risk analyses on all of their offered games.

This condition would require operators to explicitly identify all the risk factors of a particular game based on scientific analyses. Risk factors should include information such as jackpot sizes, RTP rates, volatility and visual layout of each game.

The list of proposals includes numerous restrictions on advertising methods. Operators need to ensure that their marketing material does not promote gambling as a path to financial success, personal happiness or as a way to solve financial problems. These marketing messages may also not downplay the potential negative effects of gambling.

Licensees may provide very generic statements as to their license status, but may not use this status as a marketing tool.

 Protecting the Vulnerable

The proposals also seek to protect minors and other at-risk groups, both directly and indirectly.

Casino operators are prohibited from advertising on any television programmes, websites and social media sites intended for younger audiences and vulnerable persons.

Lastly, the new rules dictate the circumstances under which a casino operator may intervene to protect the player. In terms of the proposal wording, operators should step in when a player can clearly ‘no longer bear the financial consequences of his gaming behaviour’. They are also obliged to intervene when players begin exhibiting ‘negative social or societal consequences’.

As part of their application process, licensees are required to detail all policies aimed at preventing gambling addiction.

 Doing Gambling Right

While these proposals may seem quite onerous to casino operators, it is abundantly clear that KSA is doing everything it can to provide players with a safe and transparent online gambling environment.

Every single one of the proposed rules places a burden on operators to protect players before, during and after their online gambling journey. And with these rules set to take effect during the first part of the new year, Dutch regulators are striving to ensure that the stage is properly set before officially launching in September 2021.

The Netherlands may be a little late to the online gambling party, but they’re certainly doing it the right way.