The Netherlands’ house of representatives (Kamer) has rejected a proposal calling for a ‘total ban on gambling advertising.’
The proposal, which looked to amend the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act) called for a complete ban on all forms of advertising for gambling operators. CDA MP Derk Boswijk proposed the ban but could not garner enough support from lawmakers. 70 out of 150 MPs approved the ban falling just short of the required 76 majority.
However, politicians agreed for a need to include ‘overarching playing limits’ as part of any amendments to the KOA Act.
Loss Limits Set for Introduction
The House approved a mandate proposed by ChristenUnie party leader Mirjam Bikker to enforce ‘overarching playing limits’ as a new consumer protection measure for the online gambling market.
Bikker, a vocal critic of the current Dutch online gambling regulations, has called for a ‘universal loss limit’ across all 27 licensed operators “without the possibility of offering customers an increase.”
Before the vote, Minister for Legal Protections, Franc Weerwind, rejected ChristenUnie’s mandate, citing the incorporation of financial risk checks into the upcoming and approved amendments.
Minister Weerwind recommended the House approve compulsory monthly financial risk checks for player accounts spending over €350. The minister also noted that the online gambling regulator is set to introduce a loss limit of €150 for anyone aged 24 or under. Despite Weerwind’s comments, the mandate was passed by a majority vote.
Higher Penalties for Gambling Operators
The Kamer’s final vote supported the mandate of Socialist Party MP Michiel van Nispen to impose stricter financial penalties for online gambling violations. Van Nispen proposed fines of 10% of turnover for violating regulations. The mandate was passed with support from 102 MPs.
Van Nispen noted:
“The SP wants serious fines and measures against those bad gambling companies. As far as we are concerned, a warning is followed by a fine, and one that really hurts, for example, 10% of turnover. In our opinion, permits should also be revoked in the event of recidivism. Has that ever happened, the withdrawal of a permit? I do not think so. As far as we’re concerned: end of story for the cowboys without morals.”
2023 KSA Regulatory Fines
The Netherlands gambling authority, de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), was one of the busiest regulators during 2023 collecting a total of 21 financial penalties and settlements from both online and land-based gambling operators. The largest fine levied by the KSA was the €6,794,000 fine issued to Goldwin Limited for operating in the Dutch market without a license.
Total fines across the gambling industry for 2023 grew by 42.3% year-on-year to a record-breaking $442.6 million (€402 million/£347.7 million).
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