Netherlands announced stricter enforcement operators

**BBCasinos** · 31 May 2017, 8:03 am

Is this the end of the Dutch Online Gaming market for now?

On Saturday, the Netherlands Gaming Authority unexpectedly announced much stricter enforcement priorities for online operators serving Dutch customers.

Under its old enforcement policy, the Netherlands Gaming Authority would only actively enforce the country’s prohibition on online gambling if operators would either:

offer their services on a Dutch-language website;
make use of a website with a .nl web extension;
advertise their services on television, radio, or in print.

In a major and unexpected change, the regulator’s new policy, which comes into force on June 1, would add several new enforcement priorities to this list:

the operator makes use of a promotional website with a .nl extension that redirects the visitor to a .com domain;
the operator employs Dutch-sounding brand names, or has a website that features typical Dutch visual elements;
the operator facilitates the use of typical Dutch payment methods;
the operators fails to employ geo-blocking to prevent Dutch visitors from accessing its website.

If I look at the last two bullet points i can imagine that this means none of the casinos can accept Dutch players anymore.

What do you think about it?

**youraffiliatem** · 31 May 2017, 1:57 pm

What more interesting, if You as affiliate have website .nl and sending traffic to casino - can U get finance penalty?

**Triple7** · 31 May 2017, 2:02 pm

Originally Posted by youraffiliatem

What more interesting, if You as affiliate have website .nl and sending traffic to casino - can U get finance penalty?

Yes. Also with a website that has another extensionr than .nl. The good news: they are not able to collect the fines if you're not based in The Netherlands.

**BBCasinos** · 31 May 2017, 2:33 pm

if you have a website in any other language than NL and not a .nl extension you won't get a fine
A company in the netherlands with a website in English or other language than Dutch than you are ok. You don't do anything wrong in that case.

**Triple7** · 31 May 2017, 3:05 pm

That's not what's written in the press release. It says clearly that the list has not any limitation. I don't think that the risk of getting a fine is huge when you're having a website in Chinese on a .com-extension, but you're not ok if they think that you're somehow targeting Dutch residents. And if you're not based in the Netherlands, the fine isn't collectable.

**BBCasinos** · 31 May 2017, 3:44 pm

Originally Posted by Triple7

That's not what's written in the press release. It says clearly that the list has not any limitation. I don't think that the risk of getting a fine is huge when you're having a website in Chinese on a .com-extension, but you're not ok if they think that you're somehow targeting Dutch residents. And if you're not based in the Netherlands, the fine isn't collectable.

This is for operators. These fines and these above rules.
Affiliates focussing on other countries in English (or other languages than Dutch) are without any risk. As they do nothing wrong.
There are over 100.000 aff sites that are in Dutch so i don't think there will be any focus on .com websites and sites in other languages

**Triple7** · 31 May 2017, 3:51 pm

It says:

De Kansspelautoriteit richt zich in toenemende mate op dienstverleners van kansspelaanbieders zonder vergunning, zoals betaaldienstverleners en reclamemakers.

This means that they'll chase more and more providers of services to casinos without a license, like payment providers and affiliates. I don't there will be a focus neither, but that's something else than being without any risk, doing nothing 'wrong' or impossible to get a fine. At their website you can even see that a .org-affiliate got a fine. His website was in Dutch, but not at a .nl-website.

**BBCasinos** · 31 May 2017, 4:02 pm

Originally Posted by Triple7

It says:

De Kansspelautoriteit richt zich in toenemende mate op dienstverleners van kansspelaanbieders zonder vergunning, zoals betaaldienstverleners en reclamemakers.

This means that they'll chase more and more providers of services to casinos without a license, like payment providers and affiliates. I don't there will be a focus neither, but that's something else than being without any risk, doing nothing 'wrong' or impossible to get a fine. At their website you can even see that a .org-affiliate got a fine. His website was in Dutch, but not at a .nl-website.

exactly, it was in Dutch. So Yes that is wrong.
So keep it in other languages and not on .nl
same with meneercasino.com. Was a .com domain But in Dutch.
This website also stopped promoting.

But this is going to give Some huge impacts in the business that is for sure.

**casaffiliate** · 31 May 2017, 4:12 pm

Originally Posted by BBCasinos

Is this the end of the Dutch Online Gaming market for now?

I'm not familiar with the Dutch market but this is probably the most important question. Would love to read your opinions/insights.

After reading your post I immediately remembered that a while ago one of the biggest Dutch affiliate sites was purchased by GIG for €4.2 million. https://www.gpwatimes.org/issue35/fi...l/page-38.html

Is this asset now becoming worthless?

**Triple7** · 31 May 2017, 4:12 pm

It's a repeat, but the press release clearly states the list has not any limitation. If they feel they should take any action against you, you can if you're "complying" with one of those points or even points that are not on the list. Their press release is quite clear. The only questions are how hard they will play it and what will be their focus.

That last thing is also important for the impact. As long as people can play at a number of legit websites, I don't think the impact will be huge. That will be different if many brands are pulling out or payment services are blocked, leaving just a few crappy casinos on the market. Then many people will not find a website and/or a payment solution that they want to use.

**juegos** · 31 May 2017, 4:59 pm

The Dutch Gaming Authority is now going to hand out fines even to websites that use "Dutch symbols" as these "may hint at trying to attract Dutch gamblers". So prepare for a fine if you're advertising a casino bonus with a picture of a windmill or Dutch cheese in the background. Laughable.

**affy** · 31 May 2017, 5:34 pm

The Dutch GA was established by the Dutch government with one sole and clear mission, "protect the rights of players and create a safe playground". It is only fair to say that they are doing the exact opposite right now.

Taking genuine operators down (all officially licensed in EU countries like Malta, UK, Denmark, Belgium etc. etc.) clears the path for all crooks in our industry. By taking down genuine operators players will not stop playing. They will search on and fall right in the hands of the Affpower's and Buffalo's a like.

A pity so many people in the world think that Holland is a country were common sense prevails. Corruption of state owned (and political supported) offline industry, like Charity Lotteries, TOTO and Holland Casino does not tolerate any competition. Slowly they are breaking down anyone that is in their sight. They have the politicians in their pockets.

The gaming authorities soldiers just march on brainless and are destroying a safe player environment which is pretty self regulated already. And not because of the Gaming authority... Good teamwork of responsible operators and -affiliates cleansed out the Dutch market and we got rid of most rotten apples without any support of the gaming authority nor the government.

Most online operators have stricter rules in place for players than any of the offline offering available in the Netherlands. Social responsibility and protection of players (finances) become key for the online operators. But state owned casino's and gambling halls, lotteries etc. etc. still have no limits whatsoever. (Only in their manuals)

So far for honest, legit and reputable online companies who did everything in their power to listen to, and cooperate with, the Dutch gaming authority for the past four years... GONE is the safe haven for players.

Thanks Gaming Authority for throwing us back 20 years and handing over all regular, genuine and honest players to the crooks of this industry...on a silver plate

**Triple7** · 31 May 2017, 6:10 pm

Originally Posted by juegos

The Dutch Gaming Authority is now going to hand out fines even to websites that use "Dutch symbols" as these "may hint at trying to attract Dutch gamblers". So prepare for a fine if you're advertising a casino bonus with a picture of a windmill or Dutch cheese in the background. Laughable.

True. You can hack websites and spam ads on that hacked websites, use fake NetEnt-games, send unsollicited letters to peoples house address or spam fake news ads at social media / news website and there's no problem at all. But as soon as you're having a windmill on your website, it's a problem.

W

**Moonlight Cat** · 1 June 2017, 12:11 am

Sorry, but what about Belgium? If i understand rigth, sites that usning Dutch language may be targeting for Belgium players.
If interpritate Dutch gambling comission literally, they try to extend their jurisdiction to another countries.
About "Dutch symbols" this is very very unclear term.

**BBCasinos** · 1 June 2017, 12:28 am

Originally Posted by Moonlight Cat

Sorry, but what about Belgium? If i understand rigth, sites that usning Dutch language may be targeting for Belgium players.
If interpritate Dutch gambling comission literally, they try to extend their jurisdiction to another countries.
About "Dutch symbols" this is very very unclear term.

as is everything.
If i have to believe Triple7 Every affiliate website in Every language can get a fine (what i don't believe because it doesn't make Any sense).
But time Will tell and from today the bad stuff Will start in Dutch Online Casino land.

**BBCasinos** · 1 June 2017, 2:59 am

We have just added our statement and a recap of the regulations on our website.

https://bestbettingcasinos.com/news/...g-netherlands/

And Casinos closing their doors: https://bestbettingcasinos.com/news/...casino-closed/

See where this goes the next few weeks.

**CasinoBonusMaster** · 1 June 2017, 4:19 am

We have also released a statement on CBM:

https://www.casinobonusmaster.com/up...-shutting-down

Very curious how this is going to workout in the upcoming months..

**Miles_Videoslots** · 1 June 2017, 5:07 am

NL such a good Market but and the Dutch are so well known for being tolerant and more relaxed about a lot of things so very strange that they tighten the grip here?

**Former Member 14** · 1 June 2017, 5:12 am

Originally Posted by Miles_Videoslots

NL such a good Market but and the Dutch are so well known for being tolerant and more relaxed about a lot of things so very strange that they tighten the grip here?

You can say that again. Their views on p#rn to name but one. As I also recall, for many years The Pirate Bay was hosted in NL, without any drama. They only become unstuck in later years when (I am guessing) the NL Government got hassled by the USA.

**BBCasinos** · 1 June 2017, 5:15 am

Originally Posted by happyfeet

You can say that again. Their views on p#rn to name but one.

The politics in the Netherlands are Crazy people man.
They are losing so much money on not regulating this ****.

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