SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Netherlands Online Gaming Association (NOGA) has made another step towards achieving its goal of representing the majority of online gaming operators in the upcoming Dutch market, having integrated casino platform LeoVegas.
Stockholm-registered LeoVegas joins NOGA ahead of the opening of the licensing window for prospective operators vying to enter the Dutch gambling sector on 1 October.
NOGA underscored the importance of cooperation between operators under one association, to work towards robust consumer protection, a level playing field and responsible gambling.
Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Director of NOGA said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this news. LeoVegas is a well-recognised and appreciated brand, it has a great track record and brings a swath of knowledge and experience to NOGA, which it in turn can offer to and share with the local gambling industry.
“Like the other members of NOGA, LeoVegas takes consumer protection and responsible gambling extremely seriously and leads the way with initiatives like LeoCare. We look forward to closely working together with them to the greater good of the Dutch gambling market.”
The NOGA further celebrated the addition of LeoVegas by outlining that the Netherlands’ forthcoming online gambling market can be ‘a success story’ through unified industry cooperation.
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Regulatory Authority, confirmed in April that it had begun processing the licensing process under the terms of the ‘Remote Gambling Act’ (KOA Act).
It was further revealed that the regulator received 28 individual operator applications, with the expectation that 35 licences would be approved by the 1 October licensing window.
“We are looking forward to the Dutch market, finally, introducing local licenses that will ensure fair competition and high consumers protection,” added Daniel Valiollahi, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at LeoVegas.
LeoVegas’ corporate strategy is to grow on locally regulated markets, and in such – we believe in well-represented and well-respected trade organisations such as NOGA to be a constructive speaking partner, ensuring that the Dutch re-regulation is successful.”
To further work towards its goal of securing greater industry cooperation and integration, the NOGA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Portugal’s Associação Portuguesa de Apostas e Jogos Online (APAJO) in March, in order to foster greater harmonisation between European gambling associations.
The organisation has repeatedly reiterated its approach to achieving cross-sector integration across Europe, believing that the exchange of experience and information between the respective gambling regulators and associations of different EU nations would be ‘hugely beneficial’ to the industry as a whole.
Additionally, the group recently struck a strategic partnership with the All-In Diversity Project, gaining access to information, webinars and training on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI).
