Key Takeaways
- Confusion remains as to whether a full market exit is necessary; additional clarity from the regulator has been requested.
- LeoVegas, Paddy Power,, Betsson and Run it Once Poker have all previously announced they would leave the Netherlands on Friday.
- Meanwhile, at midday today, the first licensed online gambling sites will come online.
- Kindred was forthright in highlighting the confusion on the market situation and urged the regulator to clarify.
Major online poker and casino operators are making hasty exits from the Dutch market as new regulations finally come into force later today.
Statements from Flutter, Entain, 888, and Kindred Group issued in the last 24 hours have all confirmed their market withdrawal Friday, though all hope to return to the market in 2022 under license.
The eleventh-hour exit comes despite this Dutch regulation being in the works since at least 2013. Even today, confusion remains as to whether a full market exit is necessary; additional clarity from the regulator has been requested.
Meanwhile, the ten lucky recipients of Dutch online gambling licenses—including GGPoker, Bet365 and Holland Casino—can launch their services from midday today.
