79 Online Casino Operators in Line For iGaming License in Netherlands

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June 18th, 2019
Back 79 Online Casino Operators in Line For iGaming License in Netherlands

Since announcing that Dutch online gambling market is due to be up and running on January 1st 2021, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ gaming authority, has received expressions of interest from 79 international operators for applying for license.

All interested operators have a few more days to register their interest on KSA's site (until June 21st) and send an application form. The website for gauging the level of interest is the regulator's idea put forward in order to facilitate the entire process.

In the Interest of Applicants

Chairman of KSA, Rene Jansen, said of this process:

“Everyone will benefit from a smooth process. If we know how many applications we can expect, then we can organise the organisation accordingly. That is in our interest, but also for the applicants.”

He added: “It is important for the KSA to know how many licence applications we can expect in the future. This information will allow us to organise the licensing process properly. A smooth process is not only in our own interest but also in the interest of the companies that are going to apply for a licence.”

The Remote Gambling Act passed the country's Senate in February...

...after which the regulator began the extensive process of licensing framework development. Netherlands' Ministry of Justice and Security should approve the Act and if it does, it will come in full effect on July 1st 2020. When this is concluded, KSA will come up with definitive licensing conditions and the market should be launched at the start of 2021.

Rebranding as a Result of a Penalty

Betsson AB announced plans to rebrand their Dutch gaming sites, Oranje and Kroon, after they've been hit with a fine from a regulatory body.

The platform which was acquired in 2014 from Malta-based companies will receive an all-new identity. Kroon Casino will be known as Casino Winner, while Oranje will be dubbed Loyal Casino.

The rebranding is a result of a €300,000 fine against Betsson Corona Ltd for allowing customers to bet on their sites without KSA's authorization. Betsson refuted these claims stating that their platforms fully complied with the laws, but decided to obey their decision and just opt for a name change.

Restrictive Access

Betsson wasn't the only one found on the wrong side of the law...

...as 1xBet was also slapped with a fine (EUR 400,000) for unauthorized targeting of consumers. More specifically, 1xBet.com and xbet-1.com websites were accessible from the Netherlands, although neither of them holds its license.

Chairman Jansen took to reminding the operators of their obligations:

“Online gambling in the Netherlands is illegal; under the current legal regime for companies it is not possible to get a licence for offering online games of chance. Consumers are not assured of a safe game on an honest market with illegal providers.”

Illegal Operators Must be Kept at Bay

To further that point, in February during the Remote Gaming Act debate, Minister of Justice, Sander Dekker, stressed that...

...restriction of access to online gambling, until the market is regulated, must be a priority and that “cowboy” operators that resort to predatory tactics must be discerned from legal ones that conduct fair business.

Source:

“79 operators eye Dutch online gaming licence”, igamingbusiness.com, June 17, 2019.

“a few more days to register their interest on KSA's site”

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