As of today, October 1st, the Netherlands opens its regulated online gambling market. Dutch players will be able to place legal sports bets and play casino games over the Internet.
The aim of the Act is to create a legal online gambling offer that is attractive enough for Dutch consumers who want to gamble over the Internet.
The legalization and regulation of online gambling is a result of the Remote Gambling Act. The Remote Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op afstand, Koa), its subordinate legislation and policy rules came into force today.
The Act legalizes and regulates online gambling and has additional requirements outlined for addiction prevention and publicity. The Act will impose additional requirements with regard to addiction prevention on all (including land-based) operators of risky gambling.
Earlier this week that the Netherlands Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (abbreviated as KSA), had confirmed that 10 companies had been granted a license to operate in the country. The operators are TOTO Online, FPO Netherlands, Holland Casino, NSUS Malta, Play North Limited, Tombola International Malta, Hillside, Bingoal Netherlands, Betent and LiveScore Malta Limited.
Online gambling had previously been prohibited in the Netherlands, but the passage and subsequent enactment of the delayed Remote Gambling Act (KOA) meant the market was finally able to launch.
Entain, Betsson, LeoVegas, and Kindred Group have announced they would cease taking bets from customers in the Netherlands ahead of the market opening, in the hope of receiving a Dutch igaming licence.
Approved operators include bet365, the UK bingo operator Tombola, and Play North Ltd. In addition, Dutch land-based operator Holland Casino NV and state lottery Nederlandse Loterij, with its TOTO Online betting brand, will also gain licences. The Janshen Hahnraths Group with FPO Nederland, Betent, Bingoal, NSUS Malta, which runs the GGPoker.eu brand and sports media and betting business LiveScore Malta also secured licences.
Last week, the Dutch gambling authority has imposed a fine of €531,250 on the Malta-based subsidiary of German operator Tipico for illegally offering online gambling to Dutch consumers.
Gilbert Fletcher is an ex financial journalist from Cambridgeshire, England. Gilbert worked with several leading financial publications before joining Gaming Industry Media.