79 operators eye Dutch online gaming licence

Netherlands gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has revealed that 79 operators have expressed an interest in applying for an online gaming licence in the country ahead of the market’s scheduled opening on January 1, 2021.

Operators can register their interest between June 5-21 by filling in a form on the KSA’s website, as the regulator seeks to gauge how many licence applications it can expect.

The KSA is in the process of developing the licensing framework after the Netherlands' Remote Gambling Act passed the country’s Senate in February after years in limbo.

Subject to approval from the Ministry of Justice and Security, the law will come into force from July 1, 2020, after which the KSA will draw up definitive licence conditions, with the hope of launching the market at the start of 2021.

“Everyone will benefit from a smooth process,” KSA chairman, René Jansen, said. “If we know how many applications we can expect, then we can organise the organisation accordingly. That is in our interest, but also for the applicants.”