Dutch party makes manifesto pledge to increase controls on online gambling
The VVD says it would give more power to the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit.
The Netherlands.- The centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) has included online gambling as a key issue in its manifesto ahead of the Netherlands’ general election on October 29. The party, led by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, says it would give more power to the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) so it can exercise greater control over the market and do more to tackle unlicensed operators.
Legal protections secretary Teun Struycken of the NSC has already proposed reforms to the Remote Gambling Act of 2021 (KOA), which could include an increase in the minimum age for online slots from 18 to 21. The VVD pledges to take swift action to advance with reforms. It says it would expedite measures to combat gambling addiction and says it would give the KSA more powers to supervise online gambling providers and take enforcement action.
“In consultation with other European member states, there must also be a creative approach to combat illegal gambling companies that is in line with the approach to criminal networks,” it adds.
The licensed sector has raised concerns about the size of the black market in the Netherlands while advertising restrictions, including a new ban on sports sponsorship, limit options to promote regulated offerings. Arjan Blok, CEO of the Dutch state lottery, has claimed that up to a quarter of Dutch gamblers are using unlicensed operators, leading to a loss of €1.3bn in revenue.
The VVD is currently polling in third place for the Dutch general election. It’s projected to win 23 to 25 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, behind Geert Wilders’ PVV and the Green-Left/Labour alliance GL–PvdA.
