The Dutch Gaming Authority, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has confirmed its backing for a pilot program with Gamban to provide a comprehensive block of all online gambling websites and apps should players in the country feel they need it.
Central to the proposals is to ensure that “anyone in the Netherlands can obtain a free one-year Gamban subscription by contacting the country’s national support service, Loket Kansspel, via the website, WhatsApp, email, or phone.”
Operating in the UK since 2015, Gamban is recognised as the most comprehensive gambling block and self-exclusion solution in the industry.
Furthermore, Gamban will introduce its new Dutch version of the app in a bid to provide an efficient route to self-exclusion for Dutch gambling consumers, as the focus on social responsibility in the Dutch market elevates.
Nathalie Smit, Director at Loket Kansspel, said: “At Loket Kansspel, we believe that taking control of your online environment is crucial for breaking free from gambling addiction. By partnering with Gamban, we’re empowering individuals to stay in control and manage their gambling behaviour. We are excited to provide people with free access to gambling-blocking software.”
The Dutch pilot builds on similar collaborations with Norway’s state-owned lottery and gaming operator, Norsk Tipping, which offers software to self-excluded individuals, as well as Finland’s monopoly operator, Veikkaus. Additionally, Gamban is available for free through Ohio’s self-exclusion platform, TimeOutOhio.
Thomas Borghols, Addiction Prevention Fund Adviser at the KSA, stated: “At present, the KSA offers players struggling with their gambling behaviour the option to self-exclude through Cruks.
“When used together, Cruks and Gamban provide players with a pathway to recovery. Teaming up with Loket Kansspel for the distribution of Gamban subscriptions was a logical choice for us, given that they are the first point of contact for players seeking independent, judgement-free conversations about the gambling issues they face.”
