The Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit has released its annual report 2022. It issued EUR29m in fines (PS25.4m/$30.5m for illegal gambling behavior) for the year.
This was the first full-year report by the regulator since the opening of the Netherland’s online gaming market in Oct 2021.
Rene Jansen (chair of KSA) stated that the year presented many opportunities to improve.
“In recent months I have been asked many times how I see 2022 as the first complete year.
Calendar year online games of chance were legalized in the
Netherlands,” Jansen said. “My quick answer is: With mixed feelings.”
While much is going well, as a supervisor, I see areas where there is room for improvement. To fulfill our mission of Playing Safe, there is still much to be done, primarily by licensees.
According to the regulator, 277 preliminary investigations into illegal websites were conducted in 2022. 26 investigations were made into illegal online providers.
There were 18 intention orders, subject to periodic penalties payments, that were in place during the year. Seven fines totalling EUR29m were issued.
KSA also reported that it received 83 notifications about illegal gambling ads on social media in 2022. This was 71% more than 2021.
These violations totalled 59 and 16 violations were discovered.
Application for licenses
KSA stated that it received 27 online license applications in 2022, as opposed to 42 in 2021.
Seven of the requests were withdrawn. KSA stated that this was due to the fact that it had made it clear it would not allow the applications to progress. Three applications were turned down.
13 online gaming licenses were issued throughout the year.
In 2022, 45 permits were issued to allow the operation of slot machines elsewhere. There were 89 investigations into the slot machines. 26 of these were on an interim basis and had no consequences.
Seven applications for permits to operate slot machines were rejected.
KSA issued 24 licenses in 2022, 46.6% more than 2021.
In 2022, five existing licenses were revoked. KSA explained that the license holder claimed that its lottery sales were “disappointing”.
