10 COMPANIES SECURE DUTCH LICENSES, WHILE LEOVEGAS BOWS OUT

The Dutch Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has named ten companies that will be awarded online gambling licenses, and permitted to start operations in the Netherlands tomorrow, 1 October 2021. 

Operators awarded licenses are:

• TOTO online (owned by Dutch government-backed Nederlandse Loterij)
• Holland Casino (owned by Dutch government)
• Dutch Janshen-Hahnraths Group (FPO Nederland brand)
• Betent
• Bingoal Nederland
• Hillside
• LiveScore Malta
• NSUS Malta
• Play North
• Tombola

Speaking on Dutch TV current affairs program Nieuwsuur on 27 September, KSA Chairman, René Jansen, confirmed that out of 30 applications, only ten had been approved, with the others likely to be rejected for failure to meet requirements. However, Jansen did suggest more licenses would be granted at a later date. 

Meanwhile, LeoVegas has announced it will cease to provide gambling services to the Netherlands as of today, 30 September 2021. The operator has previously been fined and warned by the KSA for offering what it deemed to be illegal online gambling to customers in the country. However, LeoVegas has said it took measures to ensure full compliance with Dutch prioritisation criteria, and the KSA’s policies, and that it intends to apply for a Dutch license later this year. 

In June, LeoVegas joined the Netherlands Online Gaming Association (NOGA), a trade body established to represent gambling providers operating in the country. 

AYO.NEWS says:

The KSA had previously hinted that it wouldn’t be looking kindly on those operators who had dared challenge its authority over the past few years, so it’s perhaps not surprising to see so many applications rejected at this stage. The question is, will the KSA soften its stance as it becomes more comfortable with the operation of the market, or will it continue to turn the screws, Swedish-style?