Kansspelautoriteit, the Netherlands gambling regulatory authority, has issued a stern warning that it won’t tolerate gambling advertising trading off Covid-19 issues. The authority took 14 direct actions against unlicensed online operators advertising “corona-free gambling messages” during a national lockdown.
René Jansen, agency chairman, said the authority will “apply the heaviest penalties” for practices deemed objectionable.
The warning comes as the Dutch government seeks to open its initial licensing window on January 1, screening online gambling operators filing applications to join the regulated Netherlands online gambling marketplace next July, according to the laws of the Remote Gambling Act.
The conduct of operators will weigh heavily in whether the authority grants approval, Jansen said.
In July, the final mandate of the Remote Gambling Act went to the European Commission, who will review the legislation to see if it fits with European-wide business practices and fair-market competition laws.
