Online slots ban in Netherlands risks return to black market
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Before 2021, the Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelauthoriteit (KSA) actively enforced the ban on online gambling, imposing fines on gambling websites attempting to make moves in the Dutch market. However, after years of legal bargaining, in 2021, online gambling was finally regulated in the country in northwestern Europe. As a result, licensed Dutch gambling websites have become widely available, with the lion’s share of players from the Netherlands choosing these newly officially licensed platforms over black market sites.
Indeed, the advent of a new legal framework has seen the market develop, and while only 10 operators initially were approved for a Dutch online gambling license when the new industry launched on October 1, 2021, that number continues to increase, with a diverse offering now serving the booming market. All legal online casinos in the Netherlands are required to possess a license issued by the KSA.
As of May 2024, there are 28 licensed online casinos in the country, 25 of which are currently in operation. Those operators that have yet to launch their offerings, will likely soon do so. Moreover, existing licensees are able to apply to grow their approved segments. Sports betting, for example, has been and is a particular area of interest for expansion.
When searching for these online casinos in the Netherlands, http://CasinoScout.nl provides Dutch players with a wide variety of safe gambling platforms, each vetted and offering a unique selection of games, bonuses and features. A variety of legal online casinos such as this, gives players the confidence to find the ideal fit for their preferences and gaming needs for an extensive list of licensed operators.
Don’t look now but motions put forward by Socialist party MP Michiel van Nispen, including a ban on online gambling advertising, as well as “high risk” online gambling, which includes games of chance, most notably slots, narrowly passed in Holland’s house of representatives on April 16, 2024. The move may see players returning to the black market. Almost certainly, such a ban would have a significant negative effect on the regulated industry in the Netherlands, as well as the state revenue. According to a Spring 2024 online gambling monitoring report from the Gaming Authority, it is estimated that 77 percent of all turnover can currently be attributed to online casino.
The aim of re-regulating the market in 2021 was to see players go from black market sites to legal platforms and to ensure that a minimum of 80 percent of the market had done so within three years. Regarding players and web traffic, the channeling rate or channelization is currently estimated at 90 percent, making the Dutch-regulated market one of Europe’s most successful – that is, for the time being, anyway.
While a majority of 79 members of parliament (MPs) voted in favor of the motion to ban games of chance, with online slots used as the prime example, it remains to be seen if this will be established in the law. It is now the responsibility of Franc Weerwind, the minister for legal protection in the Netherlands, to review and approve the law.
