In a move that has given rise to intense debate and controversy, Dutch Member of Parliament Anne Kuik, a member of the country’s Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party, (in photo above), has launched an initiative to reverse the legalisation of regulated online gambling in the Netherlands. The initiative aims to undo the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), that officially sanctioned online gambling in October 2021, after years of political debate. This landmark legislation has brought in a significant wave of change, with online gambling generating more than €1 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2022.
Concerns about online gaming
Anne Kuik is deeply concerned about the impact of this legalisation on Dutch society. According to her, “As a result of the law, gambling has been normalized, and young people have been driven into a world of addiction.” She insists that this normalization of online gambling poses a significant risk to the younger generation, pushing them towards the dangerous allure of addiction.
Kuik goes further to argue that the Remote Gambling Act is a product of what she calls a “prevailing neoliberal wind” in Dutch politics. In this political environment, she contends that the pursuit of profit and the free market takes precedence over safeguarding the vulnerable members of society. Market liberalization, in her view, has led to an additional 450,000 individuals engaging in gambling activities, with 21 percent of these being young adults.
Growing movement for tighter regulation
To bolster her argument, Anne Kuik references the National Rapporteur on Addictions, Arnt Schellekens, whose report published last month highlighted that online gambling “unnecessarily causes problems for many people, ranging from debt to depression and suicidality.” Kuik’s primary preference is to see online gambling entirely outlawed. As a secondary option, she suggests that the Dutch government should operate a gambling market under strict conditions, allowing only state-owned companies to participate. “We must immediately revoke the licenses of gambling companies that fail to fulfill their duty of care and revoke their right to offer gambling games,” she asserts.
Kuik’s paramount concern is the normalization of online gambling since the implementation of the KOA. She firmly believes that gambling advertisements create an illusion of easy money and project a festive, cheerful atmosphere that she deems entirely misleading.
Legislation in Holland
Anne Kuik’s initiative is part of a broader movement within Dutch politics that questions the current national gambling laws. For instance, Christian Union leader Mirjam Bikker has raised concerns, asking how many more gambling addicts must be created before the market liberalization is reversed. Anne Kuik remains steadfast in her commitment to her initiative, saying, “I want to put the initiative law in the pipeline in the near future and hope that I can continue with it after the elections. Otherwise, a successor can take over from me.”
The Netherlands Gaming Authority (KSA) has taken steps to implement restrictions since October 2021 to make online gambling safer for consumers. Measures have included the ban on televised gambling advertisements from July of this year and the forthcoming prohibition on gambling sponsorship in sports from 2025. Licensed operators are also prohibited from using “role models” in their marketing materials, including celebrities, influencers, and professional athletes.
The debate over the future of online gambling in the Netherlands is expected to intensify in the coming months as politicians, regulatory authorities and concerned citizens grapple with the ramifications of legalizing online gambling in a changing landscape. The outcomes of these discussions will likely shape the future of online gaming in the country, as they seek to strike a balance between economic interests and safeguarding the well-being of the population.
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