Dutch gambling regulator publishes guidelines

Guidelines outline player protection measures

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator has released its final duty of care guidelines for operators in the Dutch market. The publication follows a public consultation on player protection measures which was launched in March. This was set out in the Remote Gaming Act, which passed the country’s Senate in February this year.

KSA chair René Jansen said, “We have found that in practice there is sometimes a lack of clarity about what gambling providers must and can actually do to fulfil their duty of care,” he explains. “This results in quite significant differences [in approach]. For these reasons we have made this guide, to provide tools for gambling providers.”

As such, operators will be required to provide transparent and appropriate information about the range of games of chance offered, the risks associated with each title, and ways for consumers to play responsibly.

Key points include:

• Identifying the individual characteristics of each game
• Identifying the ways winners are determined and the what prizes are on offer
• Clearly outlining costs and conditions of play
• The 18+ age limit must be prominently displayed across all channels
• Games must not be advertised in a way that appeals to under 18's
• Comprehensive at risk profiles and early action
• Players must be able to self-exclude, operators must offer time and spending limits
• Players at risk or vulnerable to risk must be monitored
• Players must have access to clear information and appropriate tools to gamble responsibly

The directors and management of gambling businesses must be fully aware of their companies’ duty of care policies, and be able to demonstrate their knowledge. This should be complemented by a training policy for staff, to ensure they are able to interact appropriately with all customer groups. They should be able to identify key markers of potential harm, such as increasing frequency of play, long play sessions and shifting play times.

The Dutch market is expected to open for business on January 1, 2021, with the licensing process running from July 1, 2020, provided all regulations are in place. The KSA has noted a particularly high level of interest in securing a licence, with 183 companies indicating they will be looking to participate in the market.