Netherlands gaming authority urges lawmakers to advance remote gambling act

Netherlands Gaming Authority chairman Jan Suyver pulled no punches this week in his annual report, criticising the glacially slow progress of online gambling legalisation and regulation…issues that have been in the political domain for years now.

The report observes that gaming industry legislation is outdated and should be reviewed, particularly from the online gambling perspective. And it calls “urgently” for the implementation of the proposed legislation, which is currently still languishing in the Dutch Senate.

The current situation does not allow the authority sufficient resources to combat illegal gaming, especially online, the report complains, noting that “most countries in Europe have legalised online games of chance. The Netherlands is one of the few that has not yet done so. If a remote gaming act is a fact it would be necessary to approach the authority for a licence to operate online gaming.”

Licensing would make it possible to regulate the market, the authority argues, observing:

“This makes it possible to regulate the market. The Dutch gambler can then safely and reliably take part in online gambling and illegal operations can be tackled.”

The report also underlines the need for funding arrangements to combat problem gambling, and a central registry for problem gamblers with self-exclusion facilities.

Chairman Suyver complains that trying to administer online and other gambling without practical and updated legislation is like “mopping with the tap open.”

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