Dutch regulator fires warning to prospective operators over lightweight RG policies

The Dutch gambling regulator has warned prospective Netherlands-facing operators it won’t accept responsible gambling and advertising policies which “merely look good on paper”.

Speaking at a Gaming In Holland event on Tuesday, Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) chairman René Jansen said the authority would assess operators’ “actual” policies to make sure they are implemented in practice.

“When it comes to assessing the reality behind your situation on paper, we won’t be limiting our focus to advertising and addiction prevention,” said Jansen.

“We want to know exactly who we’re dealing with before we issue an online gambling licence; promises and words alone simply won’t cut it,” he added.

He also revealed that licence conditions for Dutch operators would not be finalised until the subordinate legislation – due to be debated over the coming year – was complete.

Jansen claimed the KSA would be “extremely critical” in assessing the licence applications of every operator, asserting that operators should not underestimate impending procedures.

Responding to the recent Dutch governmental debate on gambling advertising, Jansen claimed the authority was determined to avoid repeating problems faced in the Italian and Belgian markets – both of which have issued bans on gambling advertising.

Jansen also confirmed that prospective licensees will be asked which measures they will take to avoid misleading or aggressive advertising, as well as the targeting of vulnerable groups.

According to the KSA chairman, the Dutch market will have extensive addiction prevention measures which may be the “strictest gambling-related harm prevention standards in the world”.