The KSA says it has had several complaints of land-based gaming halls allowing entry to players who had self-excluded.

The Netherlands.- De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ gambling regulator, is investigating possible breaches of the Dutch self-exclusion system. It’s received complaints from players that land-based gaming halls allowed them to play slots despite being registered on the self exclusion system, Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen (Cruks).

Some of those who complained said they were able to access slot halls with no issues raised, while others had their Cruks registration noted but ignored. 

According to the Netherlands’ gambling regulations, all licensees in the regulated market, both online and land-based, must check whether a player is registered on Cruks before allowing them to play. The system was launched last October on the opening of the new regulated online gambling market. The launch of the new market was held up by a day due to a technical error with the system.

Players can register on Cruks themselves but they can also be referred by friends, family or operators themselves if they have concerns that the person may be suffering gambling harm. The KSA said it may impose sanctions if it identifies any breaches of the rules.

It said: “Failure to check players or ignore a Cruks registration is very serious. These players registered with Cruks precisely because they have problems with gambling and do not have control.”

In December, the KSA asked licensed gaming operators to run checks on their customer bases to make sure that no players were registered with Cruks after it detected an error that allowed some players that had signed up to access online gambling.

The regulator said operators should check players who signed up between October 2 and 20, which were the first three weeks of the operations for the new regulated online gambling market.

Players who sign up to the Cruks self-exclusion system shouldn’t be able to register for new gaming accounts with licensed operators or access regulated online gambling, but the KSA detected that an error appears to have allowed players to open accounts in that initial period.

The KSA said the error may have been caused if customers made a mistake when entering their citizen service number (BSN), name or date of birth. As such, the regulator says operators should consult Cruks to make sure the correct information is inputted and that Cruks-registered players are blocked from accessing gaming.

The Netherlands to ban use of role models in gambling ads

Meanwhile, the KSA has announced that gambling operators will be prohibited from using any role models in adverts. The ban will come into effect from June 30.

The KSA has sent letters out to operators and advertising bodies advising them of the new rule. It said that it will monitor operators’ marketing activity to check they comply with the ban and will take enforcement action if needed.