Key Tips for Preparation and Entry to the Dutch Marketplace
Published June 2, 2021 by Lee R
The Dutch market is the going to have a couple waves of competitive entry that all participants need to effectively prepare for.
The Dutch market is clearly emerging as the flavor of the month for new markets in 2021.
Landscape
Since opening the long-awaited licensing window on April 1, Dutch Gaming Authority Kansspelautoriteit has hosted 28 individual operator license applications for the new market set to open October 1.
Expert Insights Here
With KSA chairperson Rene Jansen stressing that “the intention of the law is to channel players from illegal providers to legally reliable providers,” R Franco Group CCO Mario Benito; Gaming 1 COO Sylvain Boniver; and Relax Gaming Chief Regulatory Officer Alexia Smilovic Rønde provided their insights to casinobeats in an enlightening interview whose highlights we share.
Compliance First
Rønde reminds of the “myriad of considerations to be made” to entering any new market, with the key consideration for the Netherlands being a track record of compliance, or full preparedness and demonstration of ability to be compliant for new operators.
Local and Probable Regulations
Benito calls for companies to remain flexible to account for nuances in regulatory practice in the Netherlands (just as any other new jurisdiction entering into), with no amount of diligence ever “too little.” And to expect maximum stake its that are currently trending in European regulation models.
Waves While Cooling Off
Boniver cites the key cooling off period enabling participants to operate while regulation is being put into place in the Dutch market as a time in which big names will come in from the bricks and mortar sector (Jack's Holland Casino, FairPlay) to compete with incoming iGaming giant Bet365 in a first wave of integration. Boniver says a second wave of big names is due next April, adding a round of top tier EU brands to the Dutch market to bring the Dutch market to an estimated total of 70 operators by next year.
Going In
Smaller brands looking to make their mark in the Dutch market should focus on regional advantages that have helped them emerge, with the experts consulted suggesting that a three-pronged focus on “great games, close player observation and strong communication with the operator” are essential keys for success in the wondrous environment that the Dutch market is shaping up to offer.
