The Netherlands Playing Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) is about to introduce vital amendments to its distant playing licensing guidelines, efficient January 1, 2026. These modifications are notably related for operators whose licenses, initially granted in 2021, will expire in October 2026. The brand new guidelines include extra necessities that every one candidates, whether or not for a brand new or renewed license, should adjust to. These updates intention to make sure higher regulatory management and supply clearer steerage for suppliers who want to keep operations in the Dutch market past their preliminary five-year license time period.
New Licensing Necessities for All Candidates
Beginning in 2026, all candidates searching for a distant playing license within the Netherlands will likely be required to submit a number of new paperwork as a part of their utility. One key addition is the necessity for an exit plan, which should clarify how operators will wind down their operations in the event that they select to not prolong their license after the preliminary five-year interval. This plan should element the steps they’ll take to exit the market easily and responsibly.
As well as, candidates should embody an announcement on how they’ll preserve the KSA knowledgeable about any vital modifications to their enterprise operations or insurance policies. These updates should be shared in a well timed method to make sure transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements. Furthermore, candidates should now submit a danger evaluation beneath the Dutch Anti-Cash Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (WWFT). This evaluation will assess the operator’s capacity to stop cash laundering and terrorist financing, making certain that every one candidates meet stringent monetary safety necessities.
Reevaluation Course of for Present Operators
For operators already holding a license within the Netherlands, the applying course of for a follow-up license will likely be extra complete. These operators will endure a reassessment of their operations, specializing in important features akin to dependancy prevention insurance policies, recruitment practices, and promoting methods. The KSA can even conduct a brand new integration take a look at for the management database (CDB) part, making certain that operators are sustaining efficient methods for monitoring and monitoring their operations.
If an operator has beforehand violated laws or failed to fulfill the required requirements, they might want to clarify how they’ve addressed these points and what measures they’ve put in place to stop future occurrences. The KSA has made it clear that if the operator’s clarification is unsatisfactory, the license could also be denied, or extra situations and restrictions could also be imposed on the renewal.
Implications of the New Licensing Guidelines
The brand new amendments are set to impression each new candidates and current operators within the Dutch on-line playing market. For operators who’ve held licenses since the market’s opening in October 2021, the brand new guidelines mark a vital checkpoint. The KSA will now scrutinize previous conduct and assess whether or not operators have adhered to the regulatory framework. Firms with a historical past of non-compliance might want to display a transparent plan for addressing earlier failures, or face the potential of their renewal functions being rejected.
Moreover, the exit plan requirement goals to offer readability on how operators can responsibly transition out of the market. That is vital not only for the safety of gamers, but additionally for sustaining the integrity of the playing business within the Netherlands. If operators don’t meet these new necessities, the KSA has made it clear that they might not be granted a license renewal, even when they’ve beforehand been licensed.
Supply:
Nieuwe Beleidsregels vergunningverlening kansspelen op afstand vanaf 1 januari 2026, kansspelautoriteit.nl, September 2, 2025.
