Plans to launch the regulated Netherlands online gambling marketplace have been delayed for a further six months to 1 June 2021.
Dutch Justice Minister Sander Dekker confirmed the six-month delay to the Kamer (parliament) on Friday 15 November, with Netherlands gambling regulatory authority Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) informing industry stakeholders.
The KSA said that the delay is related to a review of secondary licensing conditions published in July of this year, which must be undertaken before the Netherlands ‘Remote Gaming Act’ is formally sanctioned.
In his address to Kamer houses, Dekker underlined that secondary provisions needed to be further reviewed with regards to IP blocking and age verification requirements.
The Dutch minister specified that the Remote Gaming Act will need to clarify the regulatory precedent on how it will enforce IP blocking to unlicensed gambling websites.
Dekker further endorses that KSA strengthens controls on age verification requirements, undertaking registration checks on all incumbents and recommending that systems reflect the same standards as state-owned Nederlandse Loterij.
Detailing further insights on consumer protections, Dekker underlined that Dutch lawmakers had been right not to implement a ‘blanket ban’ on advertising – something a number of ministers had called for.
Pointing to marketing research, Dekker highlights that supporting effective regulatory frameworks ‘channelisation will require advertising’ to promote the services of licensed incumbents.
However, Dekker recommends that the KSA and its related media counterparts bolster monitoring of Dutch licensed incumbents ‘immediately after the law comes into force’.
Source: SBC News
