Dutch Legal Protection Minister Franc Weerwind and the Dutch Gambling Authority are calling for stricter measures for online gambling. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
New measures announced
The Dutch government is calling for stricter online gambling rules to help protect players.
Led by Legal Protection Minister Franc Weerwind and the Dutch Gambling Authority, also known as De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the two are trying to stop the rise in the number of problem gamblers in the Netherlands. Weerwind and the KSA have announced new measures, including the introduction of a €700 ($766) monthly limit on online betting.
Allow gambling sites to require “proof of income” from players.
The KSA also wants to allow gambling sites to require players to provide “proof of income” if they deposit more than 700 euros each month. This is to determine whether players can afford what they are playing with. For 18- to 24-year-olds, the limit would be set at 300 euros ($328).
Currently, players in the Netherlands can set their own limits once they register with gambling sites. The new measures are not yet final, but are expected to be implemented next year.
Do more to help
In the Netherlands, 60,000 Dutch gamblers banned themselves from gambling for six months. However, gambling companies often fail to recognize their customers’ gambling habits, causing players to spiral out of control.
Betting companies would have to detect excessive gambling within an hour
With the newly proposed measures, betting providers would have to detect excessive gambling within an hour. Companies would also have to work with players and inform them of the potential risks and the support available.
Since 2021, companies have been allowed to offer online gambling legally, but on the condition that they intervene if customers play too much. KSA said betting organizations had failed to do this sufficiently, while a national addictions adviser called for “swift action”.
Set the bar high
The Netherlands has taken decisive steps to ensure that the gambling industry is a safe and fair place for players.
In September 2021, the company approved the first ten licenses for its online gambling market following the passage of the Remote Gambling Act. KSA chairman René Jansen said at the time that “high demands” would be placed on applicants for a license, including addiction prevention and consumer protection.
Unlicensed betting companies that continue to provide services to Dutch players face KSA fines of up to €600,000 ($656,000). If their annual turnover exceeds 15 million euros (US$16.4 million), the KSA imposes a fine of 4% of the declared amount.
