GiH sums up major topics
From June 13-14, representatives of the industry learned about the upcoming plans in the local market at GiH.
Netherlands.- During the 2017 Gaming in Holland Conference & Expo, speakers and panelists discussed, among other things, the legislative progress of the Dutch remote gaming bill, the secondary legislation that is currently being drawn up at the Ministry of Security and Justice to accompany the bill once it comes into force, as well as the new online enforcement policy of the Netherlands Gaming Authority.
Before addressing the issue of secondary legislation, Ministry of Security and Justice officials Dennis van Breemen and Frans Maas discussed the current legislative status of the remote gaming bill. (A full and unabridged video recording of their presentation is available here.) Marketing and advertising, as well as the lack (so far) of definitive government agreement with the “Motie Bouwmeester,” a Lower House motion adopted in 2011 that would bar online operators serving Dutch customers in violation of current legislation from acquiring a remote license, appear to be the most significant remaining stumbling blocks.
Van Breemen said he expects the Senate to discuss the remote gaming bill – together with the casino reform bill – in October, which would mean that the Dutch online market could open in July 2018 at the very earliest. Van Breemen added, however, that he was “not optimistic” that this “tight schedule” could indeed be realised. Even though legislative progress may have stalled, officials at the Ministry of Security and Justice are nonetheless busily preparing the secondary legislation that is to accompany the remote gaming bill once it comes into force.
Operators will be allowed to offer the most common games: slots, casino table games, poker, betting (on events or the outcome of a sports game). Spread betting or betting on lotteries, however, will not be allowed. In the case of slots or related games, there must be a minimum of three seconds between the end of a game and the start of the next one. Operators will be obligated to verify the identity of their customers. In cases when this is not immediately possible, operators may provide players with a temporary account which will be valid for a maximum of thirty days. Temporary accounts will have deposit limits and players will not be able to withdraw their winnings.
