The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has confirmed the details of new technical requirements that will come into effect under amendments to the Remote Gambling Act from 1 October. These requirements will oblige gambling licensees to implement a protective scheme aimed at curbing compulsive gambling.
The new regulations include mandatory checks for players making deposits over €350 (€150 for those under 25). Additionally, a maximum deposit limit of €700 will be imposed for accounts held by individuals over 25, with a limit of €300 for those under 25.
Operators will be required to monitor customer deposits to ensure that checks are carried out at the appropriate time. Should a player wish to make a single deposit exceeding the threshold, they must first undergo a comprehensive duty-of-care assessment focused on their financial well-being and gambling behaviour before the deposit can be approved.
The KSA has stressed that “if a player exceeds the net deposit limit when making a deposit, it is generally deemed appropriate for the provider to block further deposits from that player for the remainder of the calendar month.”
It has further clarified that “Providers may permit players to wager an amount above the net deposit limit, provided this is done responsibly within the duty of care framework and all other legal obligations are met.”
Licensees are responsible for processing player data and determining “how and which data they may use” to carry out the necessary checks. Operators have been advised to consult the Dutch Data Protection Authority to ensure these checks comply with data protection laws.
Regarding the inclusion of prizes in deposit calculations, the KSA has indicated that operators should evaluate the situation on a case-by-case basis. It suggested that excessive gambling might be evident if a player uses more than 30 per cent of their liquid assets for gambling or if they lose all or a substantial portion of a significant cash prize.
The regulator also clarified the new rules regarding mandatory pop-up warnings related to gambling behaviour and spending. It specified that these warnings would not fulfil the operators’ duty-of-care obligations to monitor customer well-being.
Earlier, the Portuguese Online Gambling and Betting Association expressed concerns that Portugal is failing to tackle the problem of unlicensed gambling.
Meanwhile, the Institute for the Regulation of Gambling (IPRH), a trade body representing the gambling sector, has identified significant discrepancies in data regarding the exposure of Czech consumers to unlicensed gambling. It has urged the government to clarify the figures provided by the customs agency, CELNI SPRAVA.
CELNI SPRAVA’s most recent data indicates that black market gambling accounted for only 5 per cent of the country’s total betting volume of CZK 54bn in 2022. However, the IPRH has challenged this figure, estimating that unlicensed gambling makes up at least 30 per cent of the Czech gambling market.
Jan Řehola, the IPRH’s founder and director, asserts that unlicensed land-based gambling alone is costing the country up to CZK 2.1bn annually.
The IPRH believes that unlicensed gambling has been on the rise due to the shift towards online gambling. It cited a survey by the Poker and Odds Players Association, which found that up to 40 per cent of players use illegal online operators, often unknowingly. The IPRH argues that CELNI SPRAVA only monitors websites available in the Czech language, despite many players accessing sites in other languages.
