KSA Grants Dutch Gambling License to Hommerson Amusement
Author:
Muhammad Gregory
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), responsible for issuing gambling licenses in the Netherlands, has granted permission to a new operator to offer games of chance in the country. This makes it the 27th Gambling permit granted by the gambling regulator since its inception in October 2021. Earlier this year, the KSA granted an online gaming license to Malta-based operator SCGO Limited. The LeoVegas group, which revealed its plans to relaunch its services in the Dutch online gambling market, also got approval recently. Joining their ranks now is Hommerson Amusement, the local company, Hommerson Amusement BV. The Dutch company has not yet confirmed the brand name under which it will offer its services. Once the name is confirmed, it will be included in KSA’s Gambling Guide.
KSA grants Dutch gambling license to Hommerson Amusement.
?Bart Ros/Unsplash
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is the independent administrative body and regulator of gambling services in the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was established on April 1, 2012, and the industry funds it through gambling levies. The Board of Directors governs the KSA, and the Minister for Legal Protection bears the political responsibility for gambling policy in the Netherlands. The KSA’s mission is to create a world where gambling services are reliable, operators are transparent, and players are protected. The KSA has been working to create a safe and fair online gambling environment for Dutch players and has implemented a number of measures to achieve this goal. These include strict age verification procedures, responsible gambling tools, and measures to prevent money laundering and other forms of financial crime. The regulator also engages in various forms of international collaboration despite the regulation of the gambling industry lying on a national level. The KSA regulates Dutch gambling and betting activity, issues licenses, and assesses gaming systems based on the conformity assessment scheme. The Remote Gambling Act requires that the gaming system is assessed based on the conformity assessment scheme, which is adopted by the KSA. Since its inception in 2021, the Dutch gambling market has become one of the most lucrative markets in the world for operators.
Hommerson Casinos is a Dutch company that operates several casinos in the Netherlands, including Hommerson Casino’s Palace Promenade Scheveningen. The company’s headquarters are located in South Holland, Netherlands. Hommerson Casinos offers a variety of games, including slot machines, table games, and poker. The company also provides catering services for events and parties. In addition to casinos, Hommerson Amusement BV operates amusement parks in the Netherlands. It expanded its operations in the country by securing a license from the KSA to offer games of chance online.
Obtaining an online gaming license in the Netherlands is a complex process, and the KSA has implemented strict requirements to ensure that only reputable operators are granted licenses. The application process involves submitting a suite of policies regarding matters such as advertising, responsible gambling, and anti-money laundering. The applicant is also required to provide information about its broader corporate structure, including licenses held, rejected license applications, and antecedents regarding criminal law and administrative matters. The KSA also requires that the game system be located within the EU/EEA. The regulator has emphasized the importance of a more organized duty of care among online gambling operators to create a safe online environment while adhering to Dutch gambling laws. Hommerson Amusement BV has successfully undergone the stringent procedure to procure a new online gambling license from the Dutch regulator. It became the 27th licensed operator in the Netherlands. So far, the brand name under which Hommerson will offer its online games of chance has not been revealed. Once decided, it will be registered in the Dutch Gambling Guide per Dutch gaming laws.
KSA finds Dutch Gambling Market growth has slowed
The Dutch online gambling market has grown steadily in recent years, with a projected market volume of €1,368.00m by 2027. The KSA (Dutch Gambling Authority) estimates an annual growth of 13-15 percent per year among online gambling operators. The Dutch market has been growing in popularity, with 762K active players in licensed online operators in 2022, which equals 5.3% of the population in the country. The Dutch government passed laws governing all gambling-related activities in 1964, giving the jurisdiction its own unique gambling and lottery system for more than a half-century. The KSA focuses on providing a safe and legal gambling system for Dutch citizens. Recently, a study by the KSA found that approximately 92% of all Dutch players play at a legal online casino, while 98% of newly registered players play with licensed online casinos.
However, the latest figures show that the Dutch gambling market has stagnated in recent years, with a decline in revenue and player account numbers remaining stagnant. The KSA’s latest report has found that the gambling market in the country has grown 8% from January to August 2023, working out as 17% on an annualized basis. Although the market has grown, the regulator has noted that the growth has slowed as compared to previous years. The report noted the participation of young adults in online gambling, with 21% of total accounts in July 2023, down from 184,000 in January. The market has now stabilized at €81.4 million per month on average. One of the reasons for this stagnation is the no-tolerance approach to unlicensed gambling, which has prevented operators without licenses from taking any Dutch customers. Additionally, the economic crisis has impacted offline gambling, with spending on lotteries, casinos, and slot machines falling during the crisis years. However, the market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, with the Netherlands set to become one of Europe’s biggest online gaming markets.
KSA funds three new initiatives to fight problem gambling
The KSA has recently announced that in its mission to make curb problematic gambling in the country and boost safe and legal gambling, it has decided to fund three new initiatives. These are aimed at promoting responsible gambling and safeguarding players. The KSA has funded these initiatives through the Verslavingspreventiefonds (VPF), the Netherlands’ addiction prevention fund, and has collaborated with the ministries of health, welfare, and sport, as well as justice and security, to ensure that the funds are distributed effectively to projects that align with its loyalty to responsible gambling. These initiatives aim to mitigate the potential harms associated with excessive gambling, ultimately promoting a healthier gaming landscape.
The initiatives include Jellinek, Gelift, and Bright at School. The funding will aim to raise awareness of problem gambling and provide vital help for people affected by addictions via Jellnik. A guide to addressing financial problems caused by addiction on gelift.nl and the ‘Bright at School’ program, which will educate children on making healthier life decisions. The Trimbos Institute will use the new funding to add gambling education to Bright at School’s curriculum, including training on how to identify problem gambling behavior in young people. The KSA’s recent move highlights its allegiance to player safety, following a report released on September 12th, which analyzed the duty of care procedures of ten gambling operators. The funding of these initiatives underscores the Netherlands’ responsibility to create a safer and more responsible gambling environment for its citizens.
