KOA (the Dutch Remote Gambling Act) has been delayed for a third time, pushing back the date of the iGaming market’s launch to October 1st. This decision was made after Sander Dekker, the Dutch Minister for Legal Protection, raised concerns that the act’s implementation would otherwise become rushed.
More time needed to fine-tune technicalities
Dekker was tasked with overseeing the KOA act and the launch of the regulated market for online gambling in the Netherlands. He requested the one-month delay to ensure that all the technical requirements of the launch were fine-tuned.
Resultantly, the KOA act’s licencing window has also been pushed back. Operators wanting to join the Dutch iGaming market will now have to wait until April 1st, 2021 to apply for their licences in the country.
This is the third time that the KOA act has been delayed. The first instance was in November 2019, and the second in September 2020 after disruptions were caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Dutch iGaming market will officially open in October 2021
Announcing the latest delay, Dekker made the following statement: “Earlier I informed you that we are aiming for entry into force on 1 March 2021. Although the implementation is proceeding energetically, it has now become clear to all involved that careful implementation takes a little more time.”
He continued: “For this reason, we shall postpone the entry into force of the KOA act by one month until 1 April 2021, so that De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) and the gambling sector have sufficient opportunity for complete preparation. The opening of the market will then take place on 1 October 2021.”
Though this comes as frustrating news to affiliates, hopefully the delays mean that the Dutch Remote Gambling Act will be better implemented than it would have been.
