Dutch Regulator Finishes Off First Round of Player Protection Consultation

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the gaming regulator of the Netherlands, has completed the first round of public consultation on its proposed player protection regulations. This is part of the regulator’s preparation for opening up the regulated igaming market in the country.

The final meeting was conducted in Rotterdam. The consultations in Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Utrecht and Zwolle had already been completed. Gaming operators and suppliers, healthcare professionals and other experts took part in the consultation process, apart from the general public.

The regulator announced that there was broad support for the proposed consumer protection measures, set out in a consultation document that was published in March.

However, the KSA also said that gaming providers had voiced reservations about how exactly certain measures would be enforced, and the feasibility of some elements of its plan were questioned.

According to the proposals, the operators must offer players with an explanation of how games of chance work, including the statistical chances of winning, as well as clearly highlighting the age restriction and problem gambling support services.

Licensees will also be required to develop a player protection strategy, which must include limit-setting controls for players, covering spending, deposits and how much cash can be held in a user’s account. The KSA has suggested that operators could create a dedicated app to help players monitor their behaviour and spending.

The strategy must also cover intervention actions for recreational, at-risk and problem gamblers, to stop their play from getting out of control, as well as plans for managing players aged between 18 and 23 years old.