The Netherlands Gambling Authority expects online gambling to start in January 2021

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Ksa - Kansspelautoriteit) expects the Remote Gambling Act to come into effect on 1 July 2020. In that case, license applications can be processed from that date onwards, so the online gambling market can be open from 1 January 2021.

This message was communicated last Wednesday by René Jansen, Chair of the Ksa, during the annual conference of the Gaming in Holland platform. He emphasized that managing the licensing process properly in the context of the Act will be a priority in the coming two years.

The Remote Gambling Act, which was adopted by the Dutch Senate on 19 February 2019, legalizes online gambling under strict conditions. Pursuant to the current legislation, it is not possible to apply for a licence to offer online gambling. This situation will change under the new law.

The Ministry of Justice and Security is currently drafting the subordinate legislation related to the Remote Gambling Act. As soon as this process has been finalized, the Ksa will be able to draft the license conditions. “Such an operation places quite a high demand on an organization the size of the Ksa”, says Jansen. “However, we are doing everything in our power to get it done. If we cannot manage with our permanent staff, we will hire external staff.”

The law intends to create a safe, legal online gambling offer. By granting licenses to reliable companies, it will be possible to lay down conditions and exercise the necessary supervision at the same time. The law grants the Ksa additional powers to tackle illegal online offers.

Furthermore, Jansen made a strong appeal to his audience to fill in the ‘I would like to become a Ksa license holder’ registration form on the Ksa website: “It is important for the Ksa to know how many license applications we can expect in the future. This information will allow us to organize the licensing process properly. A smooth process is not only in our own interest but also in the interest of the companies that are going to apply for a licence.”