Dutch Gambling Authority Cracks Down on Online Gambling Autoplay Feature

The Netherlands’ gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has addressed an online gambling provider on the use of gaming software with an option for autoplay. Offering autoplay is not permitted in the Netherlands.

With autoplay, a player can automatically continue playing after each bet without having to do anything. Because this option can lead to addiction, the use of autoplay is prohibited in the Netherlands. The KSA received a signal that a player at an online roulette table could automatically continue playing with the previous bet after winning; it was not removed from the table. After investigating the signal, the KSA concluded that this was indeed autoplay. The provider was then given a formal notice to immediately stop the violation and keep it stopped. The game must also be re-inspected before it can be put back into use, in order to exclude autoplay.

Because gambling providers use software supplied by third parties, there is a chance that other providers use the same software. The KSA has therefore sent a letter to all providers to draw attention to the ban on autoplay. The KSA emphasises that it is the provider’s responsibility to check software supplied by third parties for possible prohibited offers or game functions.