If you need more information about online games of chance If you are looking up, you have probably come across the following term: the Gaming Authority. But what kind of institution is this? What do they do, who are in them and what are they all responsible for? We explain everything clearly for you!
What is the Gaming Authority?
The Netherlands Gaming Authority, abbreviated KSA, is part of the Dutch government and focuses entirely on monitoring and regulating all types of games of chance in the Netherlands.
games of chance are in this case the broadest sense of the word: not only (online) casinos are included, but also lotteries such as the National Postcode Lottery, the State Lottery and Scratch Cards. The KSA is therefore a market regulator for all forms of games of chance or gambling, which ensures that these games can be conducted fairly and safely.
The KSA focuses on a world where all providers offer a transparent and fair game, so that the player is protected at all times. Furthermore, they strive for clear chances of winning, the preventing gambling addictions and the elimination of illegal activities on the Dutch gambling market. It is their mission to let consumers play as safe as possible and to prevent abuses.
What does the Gaming Authority do?
The Gaming Authority is involved on a daily basis with three self-imposed objectives, but also with 5 statutory tasks. In terms of goals, they focus on protecting consumers, preventing gambling addiction from developing and combating crime and illegality in the Dutch gambling market.
Then there are the 5 statutory tasks of the KSA:
1. Regulate the market
They do this by granting licenses to parties that are then allowed to operate on the market. A provider only receives a license if strict conditions are met. That is also the second statutory task of the KSA: supervision and enforcement.
2. Enforcing Rules
In order to obtain and maintain a permit, a company must therefore meet strict conditions. As soon as these conditions are no longer complied with by a company, the KSA takes immediate action. For example, they can enter into discussions with the company, impose a fine on the company or revoke the permit immediately. The enforcement function of the KSA also comes into effect immediately when illegal activities take place.
3. Prevent Gambling Addictions
The KSA is also involved in the prevention of gambling addictions. As part of the strict conditions, license holders have a duty of care towards their participants. This is again closely monitored as part of this third task. In addition, the KSA makes all the risks of games of chance clear and they encourage collaboration between all kinds of organizations to prevent gambling addiction.
4. Sharing information and providing information
Fourthly, the KSA focuses on providing information and education about games of chance. This can come when all kinds of authorities ask questions. Of course citizens, the players of games of chance, may have questions about the KSA. Municipalities, which act as co-supervisors of casinos within their municipality, also ask questions about the sawing process. Permit holders or other companies in turn also ask the KSA all kinds of questions. In this case, for example, consider a sports association that wants to organize a lottery itself to finance the construction of a new canteen; since a lottery is also a game of chance, they must also contact the KSA for this.
5. Preventing Match Fixing
The last statutory task of the Dutch Gaming Authority has to do with combating match fixing. When offering (online) sports betting, a provider must take all kinds of measures to prevent and combat match fixing. For example, possible indicators of fraud or reports about match fixing must be reported to the appropriate authorities. the KSA as an umbrella organization therefore supervises this.
In addition to all objectives and legal obligations, the KSA is still working on one last part. That is the advice of the Minister for Legal Protection. The KSA provides this minister with solicited and unsolicited advice on the current gambling policy of the Dutch government.
Powers of the Ksa
As a supervisor, you must have a number of enforcement instruments at your disposal. In the case of the KSA, there are 6. The first option is the Binding Designation. The Board of Directors then enforces compliance with a certain rule at a company and sets a term within which this must be arranged.
The Board of Directors also has a Public warning at its disposal, with which it can inform as many players as possible quickly and efficiently about abuses in the market. The third option is to hand out an administrative fine. The KSA may distribute these completely independently: the Public Prosecution Service or another judge does not need to be involved here. This fine can amount to almost 900.000 euros.
The Gaming Authority also has the options to impose an order subject to administrative coercion or order subject to penalty. In both cases, a period is set within which an offender has the violation ended. If this does not happen, the administrative coercion or penalty will come into effect. Respectively, the KSA has the violation terminated at the expense of the offender or the penalty imposed must be paid by the offender.
The KSA's last means of enforcement is in the form of cooperation with the Public Prosecution Service. For example, in the event of a concurrence of several crimes, the KSA can engage the Public Prosecution Service for criminal proceedings.
