Dutch online gaming association appoints new MD
Peter-Paul de Goeij named as new head of Speel Verantwoord
The Dutch online gaming association (Speel Verantwoord) has named former Lottovate Netherlands MD Peter-Paul de Goeij as its new managing director.
De Goeij will replace Rutger-Jan Hebben, who has led the association since its founding in 2014. Hebben has decided to step down following the Dutch parliament’s decision to adopt the Remote Gaming Act and will solely focus on his consultancy firm.
Peter-Paul de Goeij most recently served as managing director of Lottovate Netherlands, a subsidiary of Zeal Network, helping the company to launch a new lottery brand in the Netherlands in 2018.
Current Speel Verantwoord members include bet365, GVC Holdings, Flutter Entertainment, Betsson, Kindred, Dazzletag and Evolution Gaming.
Citing a “challenging” last few years in getting the legislation through the door, Hebben said he was pleased that a new regulatory and licensing system was finally being created.
“This is in the interest of both consumers and operators. Now that this milestone has been reached, I will focus on my own consultancy firm. I look back with satisfaction on what we have achieved,” Hebben added.
Jan-Hebben will leave Speel Verantwoord in June after five years with the association
Speaking at the Gaming in Holland conference earlier this week, the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) confirmed its expectation that regulated online gaming operations would begin on 1 January 2021, inviting operators to register their interest in licences on the KSA website.
However, no details were released about the procedure for previously sanctioned operators, who are subject to a cooling-off period of up to two years before they can apply for an egaming licence.
Under the Remote Gaming Bill, all operators who have been previously fined are required to demonstrate “reliability”, showing that they have not actively targeted the Dutch market during the two-year cooling off period.
Among the measures also reportedly under consideration is a requirement that licenced firms make a mandatory financial contribution to gambling-related harm causes and research, although no specific details were released on how much operators would be required to contribute.
A national self-exclusion register and centralised database of licensing data are also reportedly under construction ahead of the roll-out of the new market.
Incoming Speel Verantwoord MD de Goeij said the main challenge for operators now was to work towards a “sustainably regulated online gambling market which puts its consumers first”.