With many bookies covering the largest eSports events, Dutch punters face many challenges, mainly choosing the best casino. For starters, punters must start by looking for casinos that accept Dutch punters. This comes in handy when a player needs to load and withdraw funds from the bookmaker. Other important aspects worth consideration include licensing, game variety, betting markets, and security.
The Netherlands has quite a long gambling history. The first betting activities recorded date back to the 14th century, but experts believe gambling took place long before. However, the gambling laws kept on changing in different eras throughout history. In 1964, the Dutch government began regulating all gambling activities. This followed the enactment of the Betting and Gaming Act, spelling out all the requirements and regulations that operators and punters had to follow.
The legislation remained active for several decades, with only minor amendments being made to it in the late 90s and early 2000s. In 2012, the Dutch Gaming Authority, also known as Kansspelautoritet, was established as an independent regulator. The body operates under the Ministry of Justice and Security, tasked with supervising and regulating all gambling activities in the country to protect punters and prevent illegal gambling.
Key historical changes
There have been numerous changes in the gambling industry in the Netherlands. The main one was in 1964 when the Dutch government introduced new gambling regulations, which resulted in a decrease in illegal gambling operations. Punters could now enjoy protected gambling, but only when using licensed casinos.
The late 90s and early 2000s also came with significant changes in the industry as online betting was introduced. Most punters shifted to online betting due to its numerous benefits over gambling in land-based casinos. The introduction of online betting also marked the highest growth in the number of Dutch punters recorded in history.
The Remote Gambling Act, passed in October 2021, also marked a significant change. That was because it formally legalized most forms of online betting, including eSports betting. Before the Act, punters could still bet online, but no clear regulations were set specifically for online gambling.