The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) launched online gambling on 1 October, permitting licensed operators to market their services to customers, but also banning unlicensed operators which had previously done so without authorisation.
Entain, Betsson, LeoVegas and Kindred Group were all operators initially refused a licence. Under the country’s cooling-off period, those operating within the unregulated Dutch market must have ceased for two years before being permitted to apply for a licence.
PokerKamers ceased working with unlicensed operators and rebranded its website to comply with the new regulations and enhance its customer appeal.
PokerKamers Founder Joris Koningsberg commented: “Being fully compliant meant saying farewell to online poker sites that did not receive a licence to legally operate in the Netherlands; this includes renowned sites like partypoker and bwin, as parent company Entain's initial application was rejected.
“It was an easy decision because the only other option was working with illegal poker sites. And besides, one of our favourite partners, bet365, did receive its licence.”
Entain is one of the operators expecting to finally receive its licence later in 2022, when the cooling-off period expires. As further operators are approved, PokerKamers expects its own business to expand.
PokerKamers Co-Owner Oscar Oosterling said: “We have added a poker course, several tools including a tournament filter, the M-Calculator and poker cheat sheets. And our to-do list is only getting bigger.”
