Dutch government mulls regulated market postponement due to Covid-19
State officials debate wide-ranging amendments to Remote Gaming Act including reduction of five-year licence term
Operators may have to wait even longer for an online gambling licence in the Netherlands after government officials greenlit a motion recommending to delay market regulation following the Covid-19 pandemic.
MPs attending a plenary debate into the Remote Gaming Act agreed on the motion so that operators would have time to deal with the “shock” of Covid-19, while granting more time for the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) and national self-exclusion register (CRUKS) to prepare for market launch.
The motion further calls on the government to launch a consultation as to whether delaying market liberalisation is necessary.
The Dutch market was expected to go live in July 2021, six months after the introduction of secondary regulations being currently drawn up by the Dutch government.
A secondary motion adopted during this week’s debate calls for the extension of the cooling-off period, under which previously sanctioned operators are barred from legally entering the Dutch market for a period of time.
The motion would allow unsanctioned operators the advantage of entering a regulated market before those firms which have previously had run-ins with the regulator.
Ten motions were discussed during the debate, with Dutch MPs agreeing an amendment to reduce licence terms for operators from five years to three years.
However, this motion was opposed by Dutch Minister of Justice and Security Sander Dekker, who claimed a five-year term would allow for a more staggered approach to changing regulations while giving the market, regulators and operators the “peace and stability” to expand and grow.
Dekker said he did not rule out “the possibility of a slight delay” in regulating the Dutch market, but pledged to meet with all industry stakeholders to discuss a potential postponement.
Other greenlit motions include a requirement for Dutch-licensed operators to report addiction prevention efforts every six months and Dutch government lobbying on EU efforts to combat illegal gambling operators.