Dutch regulator reveals names of first online gaming licensees
The KSA has revealed that Bet365, Holland Casino, Betent and Tombola are among the first companies to gain licences for the new Dutch online gambling market, which launches tomorrow.
The Netherlands.- After announcing that it had granted just 10 licences ahead of the launch of the Netherlands’ licensed online gambling market tomorrow (October 1), the regulator, De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has revealed the names of the first operators.
The list includes some expected names, including the Netherlands’ state-controlled land-based casino group Holland Casino and the state lottery Nederlandse Loterij, with its TOTO Online betting brand.
The other approved licensees include Bet365, UK bingo operator Tombola, Janshen Hahnraths Group with FPO Nederland, Italy’s Betent and Belgium’s Bingoal. The list is completed by Malta and Estonia-licensed Play North and NSUS Malta, which runs GGPoker.eu and LiveScore Malta.
Notable absences include casino operator JVH Gaming while several operators including Unibet and Betfair have not yet been allowed to apply for licences because they were found to have been illegally active in the Dutch market in past years. They will be able to apply for licences no earlier than April 1 2022 when the cooling-off period ends.
The KSA had initially said it expected to receive 40 licence applications before it opened the process on April 1. It said shortly afterwards that it had received 28.
However, the regulator’s chairman, René Jansen, said further licensees would be added in the near future, with more applications still expected. He said the market would probably not reach its final shape until July 2022.
Holland Casino chairman Erwin van Lambaart said the operator would focus on responsible gambling. He said: “Holland Casino was established so that the Dutch can enjoy the thrill of games of chance in a responsible environment. I see it as our responsibility to make that possible online.
“Our range of games is great and our digital environment looks fantastic – and for good reason. Because if we want to offer the Dutch a good and responsible alternative, we must first make sure that they want to come and play with us.”
New igaming guide
The KSA has announced that it will publish an igaming guide, named Kansspelwijzer, which customers will be able to check to see whether an operator is licensed to offer online gambling in the Netherlands. It also reminded operators that have not gained licences that it is increasing its fines for unlicensed gambling.
It said: “The KSA urges people who want to gamble online to do so with a provider licensed by the KSA. This creates a safe environment: the player is assured of a fair game and the provider must make sure that the player does not exceed their limits.”
