Dutch gaming authority Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has announced that action is being taken against affiliates that use websites to promote illegal online gambling that revolves around games of chance. With the legal online gambling market set to launch soon, the KSA wants to act against illegal advertisers and providers in the Netherlands.

Affiliate Action

The KSA takes time on a regular basis to research online gambling affiliate marketing tactics. Affiliates offer advertising of online games of chance and receive money when an individual clicks on the advertisement listed on the website.

In an earlier round of action involving affiliates, the KSA reviewed 44 websites. The websites were reviewed based on observations by the regulator as well as reports provided to the KSA. Those in violation of the law have been sanctioned.

Current legislation prohibits the offering of online games of chance and promoting them. However, this will soon change. On April 1, the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) went into effect. The new online gambling market will be live by October 1.

With the legal change, operators can apply for licensing to offer games of chance online. Anyone who is offering an online game of chance without a license or advertising such games is in violation of the law.

Setting Up the New Industry

The KSA has been busy for quite some time, preparing for the new industry to begin. In late 2020, the regulator released the standards that firms are encouraged to follow when it comes to being a part of the newly regulated market.

Any prospective license holder must have its operating systems reviewed by the KSA and approved. The regulator plans to only accept results from assessments that have been accredited by two other European Union member states and the reports must have been accepted in a two-year time frame.

Just two months ago, the regulator reported that it expects to license around 35 operators by October when the new market goes live. The licensing process has already begun and the country has seen great interest.

Along with licensing and the setup of the industry, the KSA is also focused on preventing addictive behaviors and promoting consumer protection. Each operator must use the Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen (CRUKS) to check bettors and makes sure they are not in the self-exclusion system.

Player protection tools such as this are in place to ensure that as the new market gets started, players will remain protected and have resources to help with any potential gambling problem issues.