The Dutch Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit, has announced that online casinos across the Netherlands could potentially face player limits before the end of 2023. The new regulations will be put in place to safeguard vulnerable individuals from excessive gambling.
According to Kansspelautoriteit, the restrictions will involve a limit on the amount of money and time spent on online gambling activities. The authority has identified young adults, people with mental health issues, and those with low incomes, as those most at risk of developing a gambling addiction.
The decision to implement this restriction comes ahead of the legalization of online gambling in the Netherlands, which is set to take effect from July 1, 2021. With the new laws, the authority is aiming to create a secure gambling environment and prevent issues such as chronic gambling.
The limits on time spent and money spent on online gambling have yet to be finalized, but they will likely restrict players to a specific amount of money and time spent each week or month. Once the player has reached their limit, they will be unable to place further bets until the next period begins.
The establishment of the gambling laws and regulations for the Netherlands has been ongoing for years, and it is hoped that the new laws will minimize the potential harms that come with gambling. Kansspelautoriteit will work with online casino operators to ensure that the limits are in place and adequately enforced.
The Netherlands has now joined a host of other countries that have implemented regulations aimed at curbing the gambling activities of vulnerable individuals.
In the UK, the Gambling Commission introduced the “National Responsible Gambling Strategy” in 2019, which focuses on reducing gambling-related harm. It requires online gambling companies to implement measures to identify customers who may be at risk of gambling-related harm, such as implementing deposit limits and self-exclusion options.
Similarly, in Australia, the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 was amended in 2017 to strengthen consumer protections for online gamblers. This includes prohibiting certain types of inducements to gamble, such as sign-up bonuses, and requiring online gambling companies to offer customers a voluntary pre-commitment scheme and self-exclusion options.
In the United States, several states have enacted regulations aimed at curbing the gambling activities of vulnerable individuals. For example, in New Jersey, online gambling companies are required to implement measures such as age and identity verification, as well as tools for customers to set deposit and time limits.
While it remains to be seen how effective the new measures will be, they are a step in the right direction towards creating safer and healthier gambling environments.
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