The outgoing Dutch Minister of Legal Protection, on 19th January 2021, issued a letter in which he announced that the Dutch Gambling Bill was further pushed forward.
According to Sander Dekker, they further pushed the Dutch Gambling Bill because they felt that the bill’s implementation needed more time.
And because of this, the legalization of the Dutch Gambling Bill will take effect from 1rst April 2021 and issuing licenses to begin on 1rst October 2021.
The Unique Regulations in the Dutch Remote Gambling Act
We can trace a strict approach to the Dutch gambling industry historically. While this new gambling act to take effect on 1rst April allows private operators to enter the Dutch market for the first time, we still see some emphasis on player protection. Let’s take a look at what’s in the Act:
- All casinos – both online and physical must use a central registrar (CRUKS), ensuring that all gamblers are registered using their social security number (SSN). Punters can self-exclude from any licensed websites, but once this is done, they will not access those sites. However, it’s important to note that the central registrars don’t apply to lotteries
- They’ll be stern regulations on how operators can promote and market
- There will be an obligatory age verification using IDIN.
- Compulsory participation in ‘controledatabank’ KSA’s database control to record all the activities in online casinos
What this Law Means to the Dutch Gambling Industry
Once the law takes effect on 1st April 2021, operators can start applying for licenses in October. And like we said, there is some positive news from opening the Dutch gambling market, such as:
- Existing providers will have the opportunity to expand
- New operators will be granted the chance to come into the market
Currently, a few legal online officers are drafting the new opportunities that will result from this legalization. TOTO, one of the largest Dutch betting services, is already planning on how to capitalize on its monopoly status by launching multiple marketing campaigns before new competitors can emerge.
Dutch Market to Become Europe’s Biggest
According to analysis, Netherlands’ online gambling market is set to become one of Europe’s biggest.
This analysis forecasts that sports betting will soon become one of the most popular among Dutch punters. Then follows the online casino, which is set to be legalized in the Netherlands in April. Lotteries are already legal and also very popular with the Dutch crowd.
The Dutch gambling Bill is set to take effect starting from 1rst April and this legislation will see new competitors come into the Dutch gambling market for the first time. According to various sources, roulette is one of the most loved games, with 32 percent of the players. Blackjack follows closely with 31 percent.
The report also reveals that 25 percent of gamblers enjoy playing slot games. The rest of the punters (12 percent) play classics such as Bingo, online poker, and Baccarat.
We are Set for a New Gambling Era
Finally, the Dutch gambling legalization is here, after near a decade to put up the laws. Looking at the trends, it’s true that there will be explosive growth after the Dutch gambling bill and licenses have been issued.
While the legalization seems to be only big news to the gambling operators in the country, punters have also, in most cases, suggested that they would love to gamble on Dutch legal sites.
