Strategy summary
2016-2020
Gaming industry in transition
The gaming industry is in a state of transition. For a long time, the situation in the industry was
stable. The range of games of chance on offer was regulated and the interests of consumers were
guaranteed. This industry situation has become disrupted, mainly due to the increase in the offer
of illegal online gambling. In response, the government is drafting new legislation aimed at
ensuring that the changing market is once more able to offer regulated games of chance and
safeguard the interests of consumers. At the same time, the government is drafting legislation
allowing for more diversity in the market, both as concerns land-based and online gaming.
The regulation of the gaming industry is changing along with the industry itself. The Netherlands
Gaming Authority considers itself charged with the task of guiding the industry through this
transition, taking due account of its powers and limitations.
Six strategic targets
The core objective of the strategy is helping the gaming industry achieve a new and responsible
equilibrium. The Netherlands Gaming Authority is working to achieve this by aiming for a high
degree of canalisation without this affecting established standards. For only when consumers play
with licensed providers is the Netherlands Gaming Authority able to effectively protect them and
counter the remaining illegality and criminality. This requires regulation and enforcement focused
on risks and issues – so-called risk-oriented regulation.
To help realise this core objective, it is divided into six strategic objectives.
Aimed
1.
2.
3.
at the providers of games of chance
Online providers choose to get licensed
Netherlands Gaming Authority tackles remaining illegality and criminality
Licensees take their responsibility
Aimed
4.
5.
6.
at consumers
Players play responsibly; gambling addiction stays at a relatively low level
Players play with legal providers
Players are enabled to take their own responsibility
Drive to achieve a high degree of canalisation to realise public objectives
The Netherlands Gaming Authority wishes to help realise a high degree of canalisation as part of
the transition of the industry towards a new equilibrium, without affecting established standards.
The Netherlands Gaming Authority only has limited ability to affect the degree of canalisation, as
this is dependent on other factors, like the gaming tax level, as well. In view of the importance of
canalisation to effectively protect consumers and counter criminality, the Netherlands Gaming
Authority will, however, make an express effort to promote it.
What will the Netherlands Gaming Authority do to realise this? The Netherlands Gaming Authority
is set to promote a high degree of canalisation by encouraging online providers to choose to get
licensed, by visibly tackling the illegal provision of gambling, by not unnecessarily blocking the
provision of legal games and by encouraging consumers to only visit legal providers. These
strategic elements not only interconnect but should even reinforce each other. The Netherlands
Gaming Authority, by visibly tackling illegal providers, gets more providers to apply for a license.
Protecting consumers of legal games
The Netherlands Gaming Authority wants legal providers to take their own responsibility to realise
public objectives and allow consumers to play in a safe environment. However, consumers should
also be enabled to take their own responsibility. The Netherlands Gaming Authority wants
consumers to be able to make an informed decision on where to play, what to play, how long to
play and how much money to spend.
What will the Netherlands Gaming Authority do to realise this? The Netherlands Gaming Authority,
by conducting risk-oriented regulation, helps make sure that licensed providers continue to meet
the license requirements (regular monitoring). The Netherlands Gaming Authority promotes
consumers receiving all required information and being able to influence their own gaming
behaviour, for instance by imposing play limits. The Authority’s regular monitoring duties are
initially focused on land-based games of chance only. Following the entry into force of the Remote
Gambling Act, the Authority will also focus on online games of chance.
Major organisational challenges
The transition has the organisation face major challenges. The Netherlands Gaming Authority will,
for instance, have to process a record number of license applications. The industry going through a
fundamental change means that the Netherlands Gaming Authority has to be extra on its guard
and make sure to recognise and identify manifestations of new risks and problems in time. The
slew of new regulations and the influx of new gaming providers increase the effort required by the
Netherlands Gaming Authority to have providers accept the applicable standards. In addition, the
legalisation of online gaming will result in an increase of international enforcement programmes
and, thus, in greater international collaboration.
Authoritative regulation
The Netherlands Gaming Authority is ambitious. It is becoming ever more widely known and
recognised as the premier authority on games of chance. The Netherlands Gaming Authority
wishes to become authoritative in the field of gambling addiction and the prevention of illegality
and criminality. The organisation is set to expand and professionalise further in order to meet its
objectives and overcome its challenges. This growth and the new strategy require changes in the
structure of the organisation.
The Netherlands Gaming Authority is developing a distinct detection and analysis function and is
further elaborating its risk-oriented regulation approach. It is also set to intensify its national and
international collaboration with stakeholders and other regulatory bodies. Finally, the organisation
is set to invest in the development of expertise, information management and digitisation, and in
specific skills like project management.
The Netherlands Gaming Authority
Rijnstraat 50
2515 XP The Hague
P.O. Box 298
T +31 (0)70 302 1300
E [email protected]
W www.kansspelautoriteit.nl
September 8, 2016