Dutch gambling regulator launches new governance model
The KSA has consolidated departments as it aims to become more agile.
The Netherlands.- The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has begun the year with a new Board of Directors and a new governance model. The body now has a board structure comprising a full-time chair and two part-time board members, while its various departments have been consolidated into three directorates.
The regulator said the change aligns with its revised strategy, which places more emphasis on player protection, digitalisation, and data-driven oversight, as it aims to make the KSA a modern, agile organisation that oversees a rapidly changing gambling market.
Chairman Michel Groothuizen will remain in office, and the recruitment and appointment process for the two new part-time board members is said to be at an advanced stage.
The KSA said that its statutory duties in the areas of supervision, licensing, and enforcement were becoming increasingly broad and complex, partly due to technological developments such as AI, the increase in illegal supply and the intensification of international cooperation. It says the change in its organisational structure is intended to meet these broader needs.
The new Executive Board will consist of a single full-time chairperson, who will maintain daily contact with the directors, serve as the point of contact for the organisation, and act as the figurehead both domestically and internationally. This position will be held by Groothuizen. He will be supported by two part-time directors who contribute strategic expertise and “act as sparring partners” with expertise in digitalisation, governance and integrity.
The new structure has three directorates, which will be responsible for day-to-day management:
- Player Protection & Management Advice, to be headed by Roos Lawant from February 1, 2026
- Permits & Supervision, already under the leadership of Ella Seijsener as of January 1.
- Digitalisation, Analysis & Business Operations, to be led by Daniël Palomo van Es from February 1.
Through January, Groothuizen and Seijsener will handle the responsibilities of Lawant and Palomo van Es until they take up the posts from February 1. The department directors will jointly assume operational management, while the board will focus more explicitly on strategic direction, framework setting, and supervision of the implementation of statutory duties and social objectives.
The implementation of the new governance structure means the KSA has bid farewell to former vice-chair Bernadette van Buchem, who had served on the board since 2018. Bernadette is concluding her career after a forty-year career in various parts of the Dutch government, including at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
The KSA said Bernadette was known for her open leadership style, human approach and strong commitment to the organisation. Until the appointment of the two new board members, Groothuizen will temporarily serve as the sole director.
KSA enforcement action in December
Just ahead of its Christmas break, the KSA announced that it was fining LeoVegas €500,000 for failing to adequately protect players. According to the KSA, the Sweden-based operator failed to comply with this duty of care during the period from October 2023 to May 2024.
The regulator had requested several player files from LeoVegas and found that all showed violations of its duty of care. For example, timely action was not taken when a player deposited and lost tens of thousands of euros in a short period. Furthermore, the interventions implemented were not always effective enough: for example, a player displaying serious signs of excessive gambling initially only received a pop-up alerting the player to the behavior. This pop-up was also easy for the player to dismiss.
