The Netherlands’ regulator Kansspelautoriteit has confirmed that it will carry out a “number of checks” on slot machine arcades throughout October and November.
Following the checks, the Ksa will consider whether they comply with the new registration obligations which came into play at the start of the month.
Since April 1, 2021, slot machine arcades have been obliged to record data about possible excessive participation and about interventions in gaming behaviour. From October 1, 2021, they must also record the visiting frequency of players.
The new registration obligations are said to be an important condition for analysing player behaviour. They arise from the legal obligation of the Remote Gambling Act, which entered into force on April 1, 2021.
The law not only legalises the online gambling market, but also imposes new requirements on country-specific providers in the field of addiction prevention and advertising.
The investigation into slot machine arcades in the country follows Ksa’s admission that ten permits issued thus far are “only the beginning”.
Lauding the implementation of the Remote Gaming Act as an “important step in the modernisation of the Dutch gambling policy,” René Jansen, chair of the Dutch gaming authority, says that the move was made as “simply banning online gambling was no longer possible”.
This saw the Toto Online brand of Nederlandse Loterij; Dutch arcade group FPO Netherlands; Holland Casino; and NSUS Malta, which counts GGPoker as part of its stable; all gain approvals.
Further entrants included Estonia’s Play North, operator of the Rocket Casino and Pikakasino brands, bingo operator Tombola, bet365; Belgian brand Bingoal, Italy’s Betent; and LiveScore Malta.
