Kansspelautoriteit, the Dutch gambling regulator, has stated that it will be carrying out inspections at slot machine arcades, paying special attention to the duty of care.
Taking place throughout the Netherlands from mid-December, the inspections will analyse if the expanded legal duty of care, that was set out in April 2021, is being adhered to.
Since the legal duty of care expansion came into play, amusement arcades have been obliged to prevent and limit gambling addiction as much as possible.
During December, supervisors from the KSA will carry out checks on compliance with the requirements of addiction prevention, among other things.
Following the audit period, the Dutch regulator will publish its findings and adjust its guidance on its website where necessary.
Back in September, KSA Chair René Jansen called upon Dutch operators to take greater duty of care when it comes to protecting players from gambling harm and problem gambling.
In a blog post, Jansen spotlighted an investigation by the Dutch authority which stated that operators were not quick and efficient enough in reacting to players who showed possible signs of gambling addiction.
Furthermore, the KSA also began a pilot public awareness campaign last month for its Central Register for the Exclusion of Games of Chance – Cruks, and they also awarded funding to six projects through the ZonMw Prevention of Gambling Addiction research programme.