Dutch authority talks about illegal online gambling

The national authority said that in order to fight illegal online gambling it needs additional power.

Netherlands.- The Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) revealed in a written statement that the fight against illegal online gambling is not possible if the entity doesn’t receive further powers. As authorities said, only then the regulator can effectively protect consumers and make sure that the gambling offering is reliable and safe.

The Kansspelautoriteit said the statement was released after two publications from local media outlets, Trouw and Het Financieele Dagblad, which complained about the situation of gambling in the country and said that the regulator didn’t do everything it should’ve done to prevent unlicensed operators from targeting Dutch players. As the articles said, most of the operators are located in Malta.

Netherlands’ gambling authority said that if a gambling provision, which is in the First Chamber, comes into force then it can rightfully moderate and regulate the market. This way, the authority would prevent gambling addiction and debt issues. This law gives the authority the power to provide gambling providers with binding clues and act as providers refuse to cooperate in an investigation.

Marja Appelman, director of Kansspelautoriteit, said: “We have seen a steady growth of illegal online gambling in the Netherlands for more than ten years. Data from H2 Gambling Capital’s data provider shows that this trend is reversing by legalising the market. The illegal offer of almost one hundred percent now has to be significantly reduced in a few years. We have also seen this effect in other European countries. By 2022, the illegal supply in the Netherlands has been reduced to just 30 percent, according to these figures.”

“The Kansspelautoriteit focuses on consumer protection especially on gambling providers who focus clearly on the Dutch market, for example by using Dutch language and advertisements that clearly aim at the Dutch consumer. Also complaints about providers are being considered. However, it is our conviction that eventually the best way to protect consumers from malicious practices is to legalise the market,” added Appelman.