The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) is about to introduce important amendments to its distant playing licensing guidelines, efficient January 1, 2026. These adjustments are notably related for operators whose licenses, initially granted in 2021, will expire in October 2026. The new guidelines include extra necessities that each one candidates, whether or not for a brand new or renewed license, should adjust to. These updates purpose to guarantee higher regulatory management and supply clearer steering for suppliers who want to keep operations in the Dutch market past their preliminary five-year license time period.
New Licensing Requirements for All Applicants
Starting in 2026, all candidates searching for a distant playing license in the Netherlands can be required to submit a number of new paperwork as a part of their software. One key addition is the necessity for an exit plan, which should clarify how operators will wind down their operations in the event that they select not to lengthen their license after the preliminary five-year interval. This plan should element the steps they’ll take to exit the market easily and responsibly.
In addition, candidates should embody an announcement on how they’ll hold the KSA knowledgeable about any important adjustments to their enterprise operations or insurance policies. These updates should be shared in a well timed method to guarantee transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements. Moreover, candidates should now submit a threat evaluation underneath the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (WWFT). This evaluation will assess the operator’s capability to forestall cash laundering and terrorist financing, guaranteeing that each one candidates meet stringent monetary safety necessities.
Reevaluation Process for Existing Operators
For operators already holding a license in the Netherlands, the applying course of for a follow-up license can be extra complete. These operators will bear a reassessment of their operations, specializing in crucial facets similar to dependancy prevention insurance policies, recruitment practices, and promoting methods. The KSA can even conduct a brand new integration take a look at for the management database (CDB) part, guaranteeing that operators are sustaining efficient techniques for monitoring and monitoring their operations.
If an operator has beforehand violated laws or failed to meet the required requirements, they’ll want to clarify how they’ve addressed these points and what measures they’ve put in place to forestall future occurrences. The KSA has made it clear that if the operator’s clarification is unsatisfactory, the license could also be denied, or extra situations and restrictions could also be imposed on the renewal.
Implications of the New Licensing Rules
The new amendments are set to affect each new candidates and present operators in the Dutch on-line playing market. For operators who’ve held licenses since the market’s opening in October 2021, the brand new guidelines mark an important checkpoint. The KSA will now scrutinize previous conduct and assess whether or not operators have adhered to the regulatory framework. Companies with a historical past of non-compliance will want to show a transparent plan for addressing earlier failures, or face the potential of their renewal purposes being rejected.
Additionally, the exit plan requirement goals to present readability on how operators can responsibly transition out of the market. This is necessary not only for the safety of gamers, but in addition for sustaining the integrity of the playing trade in the Netherlands. If operators don’t meet these new necessities, the KSA has made it clear that they is probably not granted a license renewal, even when they’ve beforehand been licensed.
Source:
Nieuwe Beleidsregels vergunningverlening kansspelen op afstand vanaf 1 januari 2026, kansspelautoriteit.nl, September 2, 2025.
