The Remote Gambling Act (Koa) officially came into effect on April 1 of this year. In principle, this law is an addition to and amendment of the Gambling Act. Thanks to this 'new' law, significant changes are taking place in the field of (online) gambling. However, very few Dutch people are aware of these changes. Is this also true for you? Then you are in the right place. We will tell you here what the amended gambling law means for the Netherlands.
Online gambling market open in the Netherlands
The Dutch Lottery currently has the exclusive right to offer online gambling. So far, it has only been possible to place sports bets through TOTO. This will change starting October 1, 2021. The market for online gambling will then officially open. From that moment on, the Dutch Lottery will no longer have the exclusive right, and other parties will also be allowed to offer gambling to Dutch consumers. As a result, competition will become much greater, as will the number of providers where you can go for online gambling.
Popular casino games also available online
If you want to play roulette, blackjack, or poker for money, you still need to go to a physical casino. Soon, this will no longer be the case. Such games will be part of the game offerings of online gambling providers. This means you no longer have to leave your home to play casino games. Additionally, you will often encounter various other games in an online casino. Most online gambling providers also offer you the opportunity to place sports bets. For example, you can bet on football, but also on sports like tennis, cycling, and Formula 1.
Measures to reduce the risk of gambling addiction
Since online gambling will be legal in the Netherlands starting October 1, the danger of an increasing number of gambling addicts looms. Of course, this is undesirable. Therefore, gambling providers must take necessary measures to reduce the risk of gambling addiction. For instance, they must check whether players are actually 18 years old. Casinos are also required to consult the Central Register for Exclusion from Gambling (Cruks). If the player in question appears in this register, a casino must refuse him/her. This applies not only to online casinos but also to physical casinos and gaming halls.
