We would like to thank our panelists and all attendees for joining us during yesterday’s webinar on how to prepare for the regulated Dutch online gambling market.
You can view the webinar in its entirety here:
Panelist questions
During the webinar, the panelists addressed, among other things, the following questions:
What is going on right now with the Remote Gaming Act? When will we see final versions of the secondary legislation?
What are the remaining political hurdles that could prevent the Remote Gaming Act from coming into force on January 1, 2021?
How does the cooling-off period work? What happens if prospective license applicants have previously received a fine or are still not compliant?
What can prospective licensees do right now in order to be ready when the Remote Gaming Act comes into force?
What will prospective remote gaming licensees have to deal with when they apply for a license?
Poll results
Webinar attendees were invited to particpate in a poll, the results of which you will find below.
Audience Q&A
Attendees were also able to submit questions of their own. A number of these questions were addressed during the webinar.
Answers to some of the audience questions that – due to time constraints – we were unable to address during the webinar itself are included below.
Q: Is the cost of the license a one-time cost or are there recurring costs?
A: There are significant one-time costs that may include a €830,000 bank guarantee on top of the €45,000 license fee. But recurring compliance costs will be significant, too. For instance, licensed operators will be required to operate a professionally-trained, Dutch-speaking customer service department that is available 24/7.
Q: How long is the cooling-off period?
A: Thirty months counted backwards from the date of the license application. However, it is unclear what will happen with operators who remained not compliant after July 2019. It is possible that these operators may never qualify for a remote license.
Q: Regarding the comment that imposed fines are not fatal for a license application in light of the cooling-off period, could you elaborate on this?
A: Fines that were issued for activities that occurred prior to July 2019 will not be automatically disqualifying for a remote license, provided that the operator in question did not target the Dutch market for at least thirty months after that date.
Q: Will the Dutch regulator look to underpin remote self-exclusion through blocking software?
A: Players who are registered in the national exclusion register (CRUKS) will not be able to electronically log on with a licensed operator or physically access a land-based gambling venue.
Q: What about the IT parts of the legislation like CRUKS. Are they on schedule to be delivered on time for testing?
A: According to the latest communication from the Netherlands Gambling Authority, CRUKS is on schedule for implementation from January 1, 2021.
Q: Can we expect similar measures as have been taken in Belgium in the Netherlands eventually, for example no bonuses and strict deposit limits?
A: This is currently not expected. But a public backlash might change things. Reputation management through sustainable product offerings and responsible advertising will be key in avoiding such a scenario.
Q: Will the members of Speel Verantwoord officially support the recently published EGBA Advertising code?
A: Yes.
Q: Will there be local server obligations or would it be possible to use international servers communicating with regulatory servers in the Netherlands?
A: Licensed operators must maintain a control database on Dutch soil. There are currently no other obligations regarding server locations.
Q: Can licensees operate from a non-EU state, Gibraltar for example?
A: Licensed operators must be based in the EU or be subject to a regulatory regime that is deemed equivalent by the Dutch regulator. It is unclear whether Gibraltar will qualify.
Q: Will horse racing be treated differently in the licensing process?
A: There is no separate license category for operators that intend to offer bets on horse racing. However, there will be additional mandatory remittances for those operators that offer bets on races that take place in the Netherlands.