Netherlands online gaming launch delayed once again
The launch of the online gaming market in the Netherlands has been further delayed after the Dutch Remote Gambling Act (Koa) was pushed back by a month.
Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker, announced that Koa will now come into law on 1 April instead of 1 March, giving operators a further month to submit licence applications to the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA).
With the online market not due to open six months later, the new launch date has been set to 1 October, from the previous 1 September date.
Dekker explained the reason for the delay was that more time is needed for the “careful implementation” of the new online gaming laws, to create a stronger regulatory environment.
He said: “Earlier I informed you that I am aiming for entry into force on 1 March 2021. This was also considered feasible because a great deal is already known to all parties involved about the content of legislation and secondary legislation.
“It is clear that the public interests of games of chance policy are best served with rapid entry into force. Although the implementation is proceeding energetically, it has now become clear to all involved that careful implementation takes a little more time.
“For this reason, we shall postpone entry into force of the Koa Act by one month until 1 April 2021, so that the KSA and the gambling sector have sufficient opportunity to complete its preparations. The opening of the market will then take place on 1 October 2021.”
Koa was initially planned to enter into law on 1 July 2020, with the market to open from January 2021. However with the launch date then pushed back to July 2021, last September this was delayed once again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1 September the intended date for the market to open.
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