Michel Groothuizen has expressed that there will be a “continuity and inevitability” to Dutch gambling reforms, regardless of government changes.
Writing his first post as new Chairman of Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, Groothuizen underlined his commitment to concluding the reforms of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA).
Having taken office on 1 July, Groothuizen will oversee the remaining phases of the KOA review, under a new coalition government.
Despite changes KSA agents remain in place to finalise a near-three-year process to overhaul KOA laws, which launched the Netherlands online gambling marketplace in October 2021.
As noted: “The new ministers will also use largely the same underlying structure in the departments. And civil servants will support them, enthusiastically or not, but above all loyally, and provide them with expert advice, thereby contributing to a stable and predictable national government.
“And that is a good thing, because otherwise, much knowledge and expertise would be lost every four years, American style.”
As Chairman of KSA, Groothuizen gave his first address at July’s iGB Live Amsterdam conference in which he noted that “my words were weighed and that they were looking for deviations from my predecessor” – Rene Jansen.
Groothuizen responded that continuity and predictability are the starting point for KSA to complete its statutory duty and oversee Dutch gambling’s inbound changes and protections.
As a former counsellor to the Ministry of Justice, Groothuizen stated that he is no stranger to gambling policies and regulations, having worked on the development of the KOA regime. He emphasised the importance of a regulated gambling market for player protection and highlighted the need for effective tools to combat the illegal gambling market.
Groothuizen expressed his surprise and frustration that the KSA does not have the authority to directly take down illegal gambling websites, a task currently dependent on hosting providers. He stated that addressing this limitation would be a key point during the upcoming evaluation of the KOA law. Additionally, he advocated for a total ban on advertising for illegal gambling offers.
“This would make our supervision much more effective. That will therefore be an important point of discussion for me during the evaluation of the Koa law later this year. A total ban on advertising for illegal offers, regardless of whether they are available to Dutch players, is also an important part of this in my opinion and I will also strongly advocate this with the new State Secretary, Teun Struycken”
Highlighting the dedication of the KSA team, Groothuizen announced the establishment of a new online duty of care department focused on ensuring online providers comply with regulations designed to protect players. This initiative aims to prevent large losses among players and enforce the Safe Gaming Policy Rule.
Groothuizen also expressed his intent to engage with various stakeholders in the gambling sector, including land-based providers, amusement centers, addiction care institutions, and the Gambling Desk. He looked forward to immersing himself in the sector to better understand its complexities and challenges.
Moving forward as KSA Chairman, Groothuizen reaffirmed his commitment to continuity and predictability in the KSA’s approach, ensuring a stable regulatory environment for the Dutch gambling market.
https://lotterydaily.com/2024/07/31/regulation/ksa-commits-to-action-plan-against-black-market/