The Dutch Gaming Authority – All About Kansspelautoriteit

We will begin this piece with general details about the Netherlands Gambling Authority KSA, followed by information about the different types of licences that it can issue. Next, you will learn about the gambling history of the country, which includes the monopolisation of the market and, most recently, remote gambling opportunities. Finally, you can find answers to the most popular questions on the topic.

The Netherlands Gaming Authority

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is the gambling authority in the Netherlands. The independent government body was established in 2012 to regulate and monitor all gambling activities in the country. Its main goals include protecting Dutch players and fighting gambling addiction and illegal practices. The KSA aims to achieve these goals by licensing and regulating the Dutch gambling industry.

Until recently, all forms of online gambling were strictly prohibited by the government. It was illegal for operators to access or target Dutch players. Plus, casino brands were not allowed to own .nl gambling domains. However, things changed in 2021, when the government lifted the ban. Since then, Dutch players can take advantage of a range of top online casinos in the Netherlands.

Types of Licences Issued by the Kansspelautoriteit

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) monitors and regulates all gambling activities in the country. Thus, it can issue licences for different purposes. For example, there is a specific licence for online operators. Here is a full list of the types of licences issued by the KSA:

Let’s briefly discuss each type. Operators must hold an active operating licence to run slots or other gambling devices in the Netherlands. If there is a slot machine in a public place, such as a pub, the venue must obtain a gaming machine licence. A non-remote general betting (limited) operating licence is required for horse racing betting activities. If you are organising a one-off gambling activity, such as a lottery, you must obtain a single licence.

The multi-year licence is valid for a long period of time, and it is awarded to operators like the Lotto, Holland Casino, and Staatsloterij. Typically, non-recurring licences are used by lottery operators such as Postcode Loterij and BankGiro Loterij. As the name suggests, the remote gambling licence is for operators that offer online gambling services to players based in the Netherlands.

KSA Duties and Responsibilities

The KSA Netherlands has outlined a 4-year plan to achieve five major goals in the gambling industry. The main mission of this government body is to protect the customer, prevent abuses, provide a safe gaming environment and test the games and odds for fairness and transparency. Below, you can find a list of the main duties and responsibilities of the KSA:

The player is at the centre of attention for the KSA, so the gambling authority aims to prevent the chances of gambling addiction. This administrative body strives to create a market with safe and fair gambling services that gamblers can enjoy.

Gambling History in the Netherlands

Dutch people have been gambling for centuries now. As a matter of fact, the oldest running lottery in the world is in the Netherlands – it started in 1726. Moreover, documents show that the first-state issued gambling and betting licence dates back to the 14th century. There has always been some form of control over the gaming industry in the country.

In the mid-1960s, the Dutch government started heavily monitoring and regulating the sector after enacting the Betting and Gaming Act. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the Netherlands gambling regulations were slightly altered. The biggest change so far was in 2012 with the creation of the Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit).

Until recently, few operators could provide gambling and betting services in the Netherlands. Thanks to the latest update in the Betting and Gaming Act, the KSA can now grant licences to online operators. This has opened the door for many brands that are looking to enter the market.

Netherlands’ Monopoly

In the Netherlands, the gambling sector has been monopolised to reduce competition between operators and prevent excessive consumption of gambling services. Currently, the state owns and operates the Holland Casino brand, which has 14 gambling venues nationwide. This operator offers table games and slots to players. The lotteries in the country are owned and operated by the Nederlandse Loterij, the national lottery.

The Netherlands Gaming Authority has granted semi-permanent sports betting licence to Lotto BV – part of the Nederlandse Loterij. This operator holds monopoly over land-based sports betting in the country. The gambling authority has also granted a semi-permanent licence to the ZEbetting & Gaming Nederland BV, which runs the horse-race betting operator in the Netherlands.

Remote Gaming in the Netherlands

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is directly responsible for regulating and monitoring the online gambling market in the Netherlands. This independent government body has the authority to grant licences to casino and sports betting operators in the country. Moreover, operators are not required to have land-based operations or presence in the country to be eligible.

The KSA Netherlands can issue an unlimited number of licences for the time being. Operators without a previous presence on the Dutch market can apply at any time for a licence because there is no application window. However, if the company has had an unlicenced presence, it must submit an application by the end of March 2022. The KSA will reject applications submitted at a later date. You can read more interesting details about online gambling in the Netherlands in our Netherlands Online Gambling Association post.

Popular Questions

Hopefully, we have managed to address all your concerns on the topic with our guide of the Dutch gaming authority. Below, we prepared answers to the most popular questions asked by players regarding the government body. We encourage you to check them to learn about the KSA.