KSA chair: Dutch market reaching a “degree of maturity”
René Jansen says vigilance must remain a focus as operators move to snare market share in consolidated space
Netherlands Gaming Authority (KSA) chair René Jansen has said he expects to see even fewer Dutch licence applications following a “sharp decline” in 2023.
In a blog post on the regulator’s website, Jansen wrote the Dutch market was reaching a “certain degree of maturity” but insisted the body would still be closely monitoring proceedings.
The Netherland’s online market went live in October 2021 and saw a spate of licence applications, of which, only one out of every three were granted, according to Jansen.
The chair said that at this stage in the market’s journey, fresh entrants would continue to dwindle, as foreign operators sanctioned M&A to snap up licensed firms.
While Jansen did not name any operators in his blog, he noted that the M&A in the market was usually carried out by operators that had previously failed to secure a Dutch licence.
He added that in most cases the applications were either rejected by the KSA or the applicant withdrew due to being unable to meet the regulator’s requirements, largely due to operators failing to have an adequate control database for customers.
Jansen said: “This development shows that the market is starting to reach a certain degree of maturity.
“It is no longer so much about conquering a position, but mainly about strengthening the competitive position and increasing market share.
“That is a logical development in a relatively young market, but one that we are closely monitoring.
“After all, a major competitive push can also cause providers to pay less attention to crucial aspects such as duty of care. However, that attention should never, ever slacken,” he added.
Jansen, who is due to depart the regulator next year, recently spoke to EGR about the growth of the Dutch market since its regulation in 2021.