The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) recently released a research report revealing significant flaws in the current online gambling risk analysis system.
Limited System Effectiveness
According to regulations implemented since the market opened in October 2021, licensed operators must conduct mandatory risk assessments of their gaming products to determine the necessary player protection measures. However, KSA's investigation found:
Lack of consistency in methods and results: There are currently five different research methods within the industry, and conclusions often vary even when the same game is assessed by the same institution or different operators;
Assessment levels are too general: Most operators only conduct risk analysis at the "game category" level, rather than for individual games. This can lead to high-risk games being misclassified, thereby weakening protection for players;
Inadequate guidance: Current regulations do not provide specific guidance on analysis methods, making the assessment process unclear.
High Costs, Low Benefits
The study also pointed out that, although risk analysis requires a significant amount of capital and management resources for operators, it offers very limited additional protection for players. This means that the existing system is ineffective in balancing industry burdens with player benefits.
Direction for Reform
KSA emphasizes that the current risk analysis framework is inadequate to support effective regulation and must be optimized. The agency is working with the Ministry of Justice and Security to explore establishing a more unified, standardized risk analysis system to enhance industry transparency and strengthen player protection.
