The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulatory body, has appointed the three bodies that will operate its gambling harm prevention and addiction support services across the Netherlands under the mandate of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act).
With the KOA Act set to launch its licensing window on April 1, the KSA has revealed its partner organisations responsible for running gambling treatment support services focusing on national prevention, addiction treatment and harm research.
The country’s prevention and harm support network will be financed by the regulatory body’s newly launched Addiction Prevention Fund (VPF).
VPF duties will be imposed on licensed online gambling operators to help the KSA achieve its three objectives of providing anonymous treatment, improving research of gambling addiction and establishing a centralised National Counter for all problem gamblers and families to register and seek advice.
The KSA has also confirmed that Amsterdam mental health support specialists Human Assistance Network for Daily Support (HANDS) has won its contract to launch and operate Dutch gambling’s National Counter.
HANDS is currently establishing the national prevention counter that will be operational from October 1, coinciding with KOA’s regulated market launch.
Problem gambling support and addiction care duties will be handled by Zorginstituut, the Netherlands’ National Health Care Institute, which will unveil a new national treatment scheme for gambling addiction treatment.
Supporting HANDS and Zorginstituut, the KSA has awarded its prevention research contract to ZonMW, a government-approved health and welfare agency that provides independent research and analysis to develop public-funded support networks.
Following its launch, the VPF network will be reviewed by the KSA in collaboration with Dutch Public health agencies reporting to the Ministries of Justice as the lead government department overseeing Dutch gambling standards and duties.
Earlier this week, the Netherlands’ Administrative Law Division of the Council of State gave permission to the KSA to use a monopoly when granting the licence to organise lotteries in three different rulings.
