Imagine an invisible enclosure around online gaming operators: this is what the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) is building to guarantee the integrity of the sector. All license applications require unassailable integrity, assessed through intensive, multi-level verification. This integrity serves three main objectives: consumer protection, addiction prevention and the fight against fraud and crime.
Rigorous assessment at every stage
When a license application is submitted, a change is requested or risk signals are detected, the Ksa requires the operator’s profile to be completely clean. The following are examined: the accuracy of the information provided, any evidence of false documents, and any links to illegal activities over the last eight years. In case of doubt, the license may be refused or withdrawn, and managers removed from the case. Before any negative decision is made, the person concerned has the right to respond and may appeal through the appeal procedures.
Beyond administrative compliance, the Ksa wants to ensure that no operator poses a risk to players or the market. It aims to create a landscape where only ethical, transparent and reliable players operate, for the benefit of all. The integrity test is therefore crucial to maintaining a level playing field in the face of dishonest competitors.
What impact does this have on illegal offerings?
Since the strict enforcement of the gambling law and the creation of licenses in 2021, the KSA has been relentlessly sanctioning illegal sites. For example, an unauthorised operator can be fined several thousand euros per day if it does not cease its activities. However, the KSA often encounters difficulties in recovering fines imposed on foreign sites.
What should an operator be prepared for?
To be eligible for a license, they must provide a complete file documenting: a clear integrity policy, documents on their internal control system, the profile of their managers, and concrete measures to separate risk management activities. All of this must demonstrate that they do not pose a societal danger or a criminal risk.
The KSA does not issue licenses lightly: each operator is subject to a thorough review of its history, practices, transparency and internal architecture. This filter aims to ensure a regulated, secure and trustworthy market. Key concerns include player protection, crime prevention and a sustainable and ethical online gaming sector.