Malta has become the basis of operations for many Dutch gambling companies before the Netherlands announces the new Dutch gambling laws, as per the local media.
Specifically, the two Dutch media outlets Het Financieele Dagblad and Trouw claimed that Malta has a lot of technical and commercial expertise and years of experience in the online gaming field, which makes many Dutch gambling firms move to the island. Trouw has also criticized the Dutch Gaming Authority, Kansspelautoriteit, that it has not enough power to impose a fine to those who dismiss the rules, even if some of them may belong in the EU.
The KSA responded to the publications via a statement published on its website pointing out that it’s urgently needs additional powers to further combat illegal online gambling.
The Director of the KSA, Marja Appelman, said, as translated:
“We have seen a steady growth of illegal online gambling in the Netherlands for more than ten years. Data from H2 Gambling Capital’s data provider shows that this trend is reversing by legalizing the market.
The illegal offer of almost one hundred percent now has to be significantly reduced in a few years. We have also seen this effect in other European countries. In 2022, the illegal supply in the Netherlands has been reduced to just 30 percent, according to these figures.’