Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands gambling regulator, has issued a short statement confirming that it has granted a KOA remote gambling licence to domestic incumbent ZEbetting & Gaming Nederland BV. 

The licence will allow ZEbetting to maintain its status as the official operator of betting and totaliser services for Dutch horseracing offered by ZEturf.nl, whilst allowing the company to expand its online sportsbook provisions under its ZEbet.nl domain.  

As a result, ZEbetting becomes the thirteenth operator to be granted a KOA remote licence, whilst zebet.nl marks the Dutch market’s eighth licensed sportsbook property – competing against the brands of bet365.nl, Jacks.nl, LiveScore.nl, BetCity.nl, Sport Toto, Toto.nl and Holland Casino.

ZEbetting is owned by French racing operator Zeturf, who this year seeks to renew its totaliser contract with KSA, maintaining its position as the sole provider of on-course wagering services for the 4 national racetracks of – Drafbaan Groningen, Drafcentrum Alkmaar, Renbaan Duindigt and Victoria Park Wolvega.

Q4 trading saw European online gambling Plcs underline the multi-million £/€ costs of waiting for KOA market approvals.

Observing KSA’s ‘cooling-off command’, European Tier-1 operators Kindred Group, Betsson, LeoVegas and Entain Plc maintain confidence that they will secure KOA remote licences by end of Q1 trading.

Yet,  having launched the KOA regime on 1 October, KSA leadership stated that it’s regulatory focus had shifted from licensing to monitoring incumbents, making sure participants abide by the regulated market’s player protection, conduct and advertising rules and standards. 

Of significance, KSA leadership has underlined that there is no guarantee that a new raft of KOA licensed operators will be sanctioned by early 2022…