Dutch Online Gambling Market to Open in January 2021

The online gambling industry has grown tremendously over the past few years expanding into several markets.  
 

For the Netherlands, the New Year brings good news as the long-awaited online gaming legislation has finally been approved.
 

Earlier this year the Dutch Senate voted in favour of legislation to legalize internet based gambling. 

The Dutch senate voted in favour of legislation to legalise internet based gambling. Making it possible for both foreign and Dutch firms to apply for gambling licenses. 

There are over 300 companies who have expressed interest in running a gambling website in the Netherlands. About 50 of them are expected to apply for a license when they are finally available. 
 

When the Dutch market is expected to open 

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is currently working on the new regulations and is aiming at bringing the Remote Gambling Act into effect on the 1st of July 2020.  

They are also planning on processing permit applications from that date. According to René Jansen, KSA Chairman, the online market would then only open on the 1st of January in 2021.  

While speaking at the annual Gaming in Holland conference earlier this year, Jansen told attendees that managing the licensing process will be a priority over the next two years. He continued saying that this would be in context with the new Remote Gambling Act.  

Jansen also added that the process will demand a lot of organisation due to the size of the KSA. Furthermore, external staff will be hired as current employees are overloaded. 

The KSA Chairman also encouraged companies to enter the market early rather than later. He told attendees that they can go visit the KSA website to fill out a form stating their intent to operate online in Holland. The drive behind this is to overcome an overload of applications and having more time to process all requests.  

Sweden, for example, opened its market to private companies at the start of the year but struggled to meet the launch date of 1 January. The biggest problem was the volume of applications, the KSA is hoping to avoid such issues by starting this process much earlier giving them more time to handle all requests.  

All operators interested in obtaining a license in the region has to submit the completed form online to the KSA by the 21st of June. According to Jansen, it is essential for the KSA to know how many operators are planning on submitting applications when licensing officially open in 2020.  

This will help them organise their licensing process properly and ensure a smooth process for both the KSA and the interested companies.  
 

Change is happening 

It might still be quite some time before the Dutch online gambling market officially opens but the good news is that the process has been put into motion.  

Operators are showing interest and the KSA are doing everything possible to make sure the launch date is kept to January 2021.  

If all goes well Dutch players will have a range of new online casinos to enjoy legal games from within two years.