Dutch gambling market "is a great opportunity, but not for the faint-hearted" - expert

The Netherlands is approaching the official launch of the casinos not on gamstop. This landmark event for the country is scheduled for October 1, 2021. Many operators with great interest watching the changes in the profile legislation. Against this backdrop, a panel of industry experts discussed the potential of the Dutch market.

As a basis for the discussion, Peter-Paul de Goy, managing director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA), detailed his belief that the Netherlands is a "great opportunity," but it is not designed "for the faint of heart."

He explained his position: "In the Dutch market, compared to other European jurisdictions, the rules are very strict. Consumer protection really comes first. NOGA and its members applaud the Dutch government for putting the citizen first. But there are some areas where we could improve the regulations or refine them."

Another concern for potential casino operators wishing to present their brands in the Netherlands, according to De Goy, is the high tax burden. It is 29% on profits from gambling activities.

In giving his own opinion on the regulatory climate in the Netherlands, Koen Bongers, head of marketing at Blexr, said that the future dynamics of the Dutch market will be difficult to predict because it will depend on what behavior the regulators choose.

Although Bongers predicted that further changes in the Dutch gambling market were inevitable, he remained optimistic about the work of the regulator (KSA). In his opinion, the agency is currently on the right track.

At the same time, the managing director of Finnplay Jaakko Soininen is sure that the local authorities will soon tighten the rules for non gamstop casinos, taking as a basis the scandalous law on the regulation of the gambling industry in Germany.