Netherlands gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has added age verification as a priority criterion in the approach to online gambling. With effect from January 1, 2020, age verification will be a must for online gambling operators.

“The range of illegal online games of chance is huge. KSA makes choices in combating this, with the protection of Dutch consumers as the guiding principle. The criteria of age verification is now added to the criteria that the KSA uses for this. Preventing minors from taking part in gambling is an important priority of the KSA,” the regulator said.

Failure to verify age before the registration process has been completed also has consequences in the longer term. This violation is negatively taken into account at a later stage if an online gambling license is applied for in the context of the Remote Gambling Act.

“The statement by the participant to be of age is not enough. It must be clear to players how their age is being verified. KSA emphasises that offering games of chance without a license is prohibited. Satisfying the age verification requirement does not mean that the KSA will refrain from enforcement, or that a future permit application will be considered positive,” KSA added.

Leading online casino Videoslots.com has received a significant regulatory boost with the Swedish Gaming Authority (Spelinspektionen) accepting its Swedish licence will be valid until 2023.

The operator was originally awarded a two-year licence in December last year and appealed this decision. Having won the appeal means it can continue to offer its portfolio of regulated offerings to players in the growing market.

It comes as a further boost to Videoslots’ growth within Europe having previously been awarded a licence in Italy, Denmark, Malta, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Alexander Stevendahl, CEO at Videoslots.com, said: “Videoslots is firmly committed to keeping gambling both safe and fun and this has been recognised with the full five-year period of our Swedish licence.

“Player safety across all our markets is always our priority and this news is very welcome due to the growth we are seeing in the Swedish market’’

Key approval follows further upgrades made to market-leading platform

Leading sports betting and casino platform provider Digitain has received certification from the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN) for its award-winning platform, allowing the company to expand its global footprint into another established gaming market.

The Class 2 licence, recognising the highest standards as both a platform and software provider, allows Digitain to roll out its full range of services across Romania’s regulated space. Consequently, licensed digital and retail operators in Romania can now enjoy full access to Digitain’s entire product portfolio.

Following the integration of new software, including the latest state-of-the-art Random Number Generator (RNG) from ID Quantique, into its gaming suite, the Digitain platform guarantees fair play and peace of mind between regulators, operators and their players across new and mature markets.

Romania, where online gambling has been legal for three years, mandates that both its suppliers and operators must pass stringent vetting procedures to obtain the requisite certification. Accordingly, Digitain’s Class 2 licence now enables it to sign strategic alliances with certified operators and deliver its market-leading content to Romanian players.

Suren Khachatryan, Digitain CCO, said: “This new licence grants us deeper access to the Eastern European market, affording more and more sports fans the opportunity to enjoy our innovative sportsbook and play our exciting stable of games. Requests for proposal from licensees in the market have been strong and we expect to announce a raft of partnership deals in due course.

“Class 2 certification from Romania marks another important milestone for the company, enabling us to bring our award-winning platform to even more operators and their players across the planet. Approval from the ONJN bolsters Digitain’s ability to enter new markets with assurance as part of our wider expansion strategy. Additional key gaming licences are also currently being processed, notably in Malta.”

Digitain’s signature sportsbook product covers 65 sports, 7,500 leagues, and offers more than 3,000 betting markets. It also offers odds on 35,000 live events each month, while its casino solution has 3,000-plus games from major casino suppliers (such as Novomatic, Microgaming, NetEnt and Playson).