It’s All Triple Dutch for Online Punters

Holland’s long-awaited Online Gambling Act, known by its Dutch acronym KOA, has just been delayed for the third time.

The new legislation is now scheduled to become law on April 1 this year in its latest iteration, with October 1 being earmarked as the day of market opening.

“Although implementation is proceeding apace, it’s become clear to all involved that careful implementation takes a little more time,” said the nation’s Law Minister Sander Dekker.

Dekker cited the impact of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic as the principal reason behind the yet-again delayed launch of regulated iGaming in Holland.

The KOA was originally envisioned to pass into law on July 1, 2020. The market’s official launch was tabled for six-months-later, the start of this year.

But it’s been postponed yet again.

Meantime, the Dutch Gaming and Gambling Authority (KSA) have also confirmed the concurrent delay of their safer gambling register, the so-called CRUKS code.

CRUKS, like legal online gambling in Holland, will now also kick-in on October 1.

Under CRUKS every punter will have to be registered in order to place a legal bet.

Gaming operators–both online and real-world–will have to embed the CRUKS protocol on their systems and platforms. And check every bet for compliance and legality against the register.

The ID code, designed to protect—and exclude–problem gamblers from betting, is effectively a “passport to bet”.

Law Minister Dekker confirmed: “For the sake of completeness CRUKS must be implemented by all concerned providers by 1 October, 2021.”

The Dutch government is also planning to investigate the effect and impact of online gambling on traditional lottery sales in other European countries.

The new online gaming market will be reviewed after three years, said Dekker. If the KOA signals a loss of lottery revenue for good causes the government may impose a mandatory levy to top-up the shortfall, he said.