Dutch regulator?takes action against withdrawal delays

Garance Limouzy August 14, 2024

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Dutch regulator?takes action against withdrawal delays

The Netherlands’ Gaming Authority (Ksa) has taken action against 13 licensed operators for delaying player withdrawals.

The Ksa’s investigation revealed that several online gambling operators have been applying unauthorised conditions that slow down the process of withdrawing player funds. According to the regulations, players are entitled to an immediate withdrawal of their winnings or deposits upon request. Operators are prohibited from imposing structural barriers such as minimum withdrawal amounts or wagering requirements that delay or obstruct these payouts.

Legal framework

Despite a March 2024 directive from the Ksa clarifying these obligations and prohibiting certain practices, including the imposition of minimum withdrawal thresholds and wagering conditions, reports of non-compliance persisted. This led the Ksa to further monitor the practices of multiple operators.

Actions taken

Following its investigation, the Ksa has officially ordered nine operators to cease applying these prohibited conditions. Additionally, four other operators, who are suspected of similar infractions but whose practices were not yet confirmed as unlawful, have been issued warnings. All 13 operators have been instructed to provide written assurances that they will comply with the regulations moving forward.

Worldwide concerns

According to the UK Gambling Commission, delays in fund withdrawals are a significant issue for gamblers. The commission has criticised operators for creating unnecessary barriers in the withdrawal process, frequently demanding additional documentation at the time of withdrawal rather than during the deposit. The commission stated that operators “should not accept deposits indefinitely and then use their AML procedures to obstruct withdrawal requests.”

Ksa’s monitoring abilities

The Ksa recently issued?warnings to sports-betting operators for lapses in match-fixing prevention. In early 2024, the regulator provided updated guidance on preventing match-fixing, only to uncover several instances of non-compliance. These discrepancies led to warnings being issued to operators for inadequate risk analysis and response measures.