SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Dutch healthcare research agency ZonMw has put out a call to hand out grants for a new study surrounding the prevention of gambling harms.
The study calls for researchers committed to improving care for those suffering from problem gambling harms by increasing the number of treatment options and simplifying the access to relevant services.
Zon, or ZorgOnderzoek Nederland, is an independent government body established by law with the ZON Act from 1998. ZonMw constitutes a working relationship between Zon and one of its main contractors – the Dutch Research Council – which began in 2001.
The latest grant round is the second from ZonMw’s “Prevention of Gambling Addiction” programme, which was launched in 2023 and will run until 2029. The funding comes from the Verslavingspreventiefonds (VPF) – also known as the Addiction Prevention Fund.
Managed by the Dutch gambling authority Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the VPF was set up with the enforcement of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act) back in 2021 when the country’s licensed gambling market was first launched.
The fund has several spending goals, one of which being the research into gambling harm prevention projects. ZonMw was handed the task to run the programme by the KSA in 2021.
Researchers have until 19 November to submit an application for the studies grants. There will also be an additional information meeting held on 1 October, which will explain the application process in detail.
From 1 October, all online gambling operators will adopt new mandatory deposit limits and customer care duties as new compulsory measures applied to the Remote Gambling Act (KOA).
Meanwhile political developments will see Dutch gambling enter a period of uncertainty, as yesterday the Conservative Coalition government confirmed its two-step income tax hike from 30.5% to 37.8% by 2026.
Despite forthcoming changes, the laws, practices and protections of the KOA market continue to be reviewed by new State Secretary for Legal Protections Teun Struycken.
Questioned at the Kamer, Minister Struycken responded that he would review all motions submitted to overhaul the KOA market and strengthen customer protections. Dutch licences were warned to prepare for further regulatory changes.
