Major Dutch online gambling trade bodies merge in “necessary and logical step”
NOGA members will join VNLOK as the body presents a united front to lobby for the Dutch online gambling market.
The Netherlands.- Two of the biggest gambling industry trade bodies in the Netherlands have merged to form one. NOGA (the Netherlands Online Gambling Association) has been subsumed into VNLOK (Licensed Dutch Online Gambling Providers) with members of NOGA who have a licence for Remote Gambling becoming members of the latter.
The merger will consolidate the industry’s lobbying power amid the prospect of new restrictions on online gambling proposed by State secretary for legal protection Teun Struycken, including a possible rise in the minimum age for online slots.
In March, both bodies presented their views during a government round-table discussion. Reforms are currently in doubt amid political turmoil, but Struycken remains in his role. An early general election will be held in the Netherlands on October 29.
VNLOK said the future of the combined association would be jointly determined by all members old and new.
Sanna van Doorn, vice-chairman of NOGA said: “The board of NOGA is pleased that, after a long period of cooperation, we are now entering the next phase as a trade association together with VNLOK. We are convinced that this will create a broad and solid trade association that will continue to make a relevant contribution to a structurally healthy and safe online gambling market in the Netherlands.”
Björn Fuchs, chairman of VNLOK: “On behalf of the board of VNLOK, I would like to express our gratitude for the dialogue and efforts of the board of NOGA, which make this joint next step possible. A necessary and logical step, which gives the online gambling industry one clear, united voice towards all relevant stakeholders.”
NOGA was created in 2019 to represent both domestic and international gaming operators prior to the regulation of online gaming in the Netherlands in 2021. VNLOK was formed amid the launch of the regulated market with more of a focus on cooperation among licensed operators and promoting responsible gambling practices. Fuchs was named as chairman last month, stepping into the role vacated by Helma Lodders, who decided not to seek reelection.
