Dutch regulator launches new department to manage influx of licence applications

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) will set up a temporary licensing department to deal with a massive influx of licence applications from operators. Speaking at the Gaming In Holland conference, KSA chair René Jansen said the new department would be staffed by existing employees but also by a number of temporary staff hired and trained by Dutch regulators to process the applications. Jansen also revealed that licence applications would be submitted via an online portal, which is currently under development by the KSA. The KSA chair said the licensing process would benefit from “effective preparation” by operators, warning that incomplete applications would be denied or subject to longer timescales than the projected processing timescale of six months. “You can rest assured that the KSA is doing everything in its power to see that, starting on 1 March, it is able to process licence applications in a streamlined way within a period of six months,” Jansen said. Jansen paid tribute to staff at the KSA for their work in preparing secondary regulations to govern the Dutch market and paid tribute to Minister of Justice and Security Sander Dekker for his efforts. He said: “For that, I feel we owe him our gratitude – and it deserves to be said. “I am firmly convinced that, in a regulated market, we will be much better able to protect consumers from the dangers of online gambling than is currently the case. As it happens, this is precisely the reason why the KSA exists: to ensure that consumers can play safely,” Jansen concluded. The KSA is due to launch its consultation on responsible gambling and advertising measures next month and will publish its final technical assessment standards for operators in November.