Recognising a need for a ‘strong handle on compliance requirements’ in the Dutch online gambling market, Maxima Compliance has opened an office in the Netherlands to enhance its local offering. 

By further establishing its presence in the Netherlands via the new local centre, Maxima intends to offer its suite of technical and regulatory compliance services to regional gaming companies, adopting a ‘local approach’ specific to national requirements. 

Services will include the firm’s quality management system review and support in addition to changel management, technical and regulatory compliance support, as well as the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) certified Maxima DataVault solution.

Antonio Zanghi, CEO of Maxima Compliance, said: “It’s become clear in the short few months since regulated online gaming launched in the Netherlands that only those with a strong handle on compliance requirements will succeed in this exciting new market. 

“Maxima Compliance’s Dutch office means we can now provide bespoke and local expertise to operators and suppliers in the Netherlands.”

Since launching on 1 October, the Dutch online gambling market has grown rapidly, with Dutch ministers revising the initial figure for the size of the sector in 2021 from a gross gaming revenue of €580 million to €814 million.

As a result of this, Rene Jansen, Chairman of the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch Gambling Authority, asserted that a key ‘preliminary’ conclusion is that “the size of the online market was and is larger than we previously thought”.

In support of the opening of its Dutch office, Maxima has entered into two partnerships – having launched the centre as a joint venture with business consulting firm Gran Via BV and securing an agreement with igaming community Gaming in Holland from this year onwards. 

Tom de Bruijn, Co-Founder of Gran Via BV, said: “Since the Netherlands finally launched its regulated online gaming framework last year, the market is quickly developing into one of the most important in Europe. 

“Gaming businesses are learning that a deep understanding of local conditions and requirements, particularly when it comes to compliance, is essential. That’s why we are thrilled to be working alongside the best in the business, Maxima Compliance.”

The ‘essential’ compliance conditions referred to by de Brujin include several advertising requirements – requirements which have so far seen one of the Dutch market’s 11 licenced operators and 15 affiliates targeted by the Dutch Gambling Authority for violations. 

In addition, the KSA monitors operators’ prevention policies and measures implemented to guarantee the integrity of games of chance and provide players with accurate information, as well as working to detect illegal games of chance and compliance with AML and terrorist financing laws.

Commenting on Gaming in Holland’s partnership with Maxima, the community’s Founder, William van Oort, remarked: “I am very happy to welcome Maxima Compliance to the Netherlands-focused iGaming community.

“In order to operate successfully in the highly-regulated Dutch market, technical compliance is of paramount importance. This holds true not only for licensed operators, but also for related B2B service providers.”