The Netherlands Online Poker Goes Live
The online gambling market in the Netherlands goes live today, October 1.
GGPoker is expected to be one of the operators to launch online poker games.
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) which is the gaming regulator in the Netherlands confirmed that it had approved 10 online gaming licenses from the 29 applications that it received.
If you look at the list of the 10 approved operators in the Netherlands, you will not find GGPoker’s name.
This is because GGPoker applied for a license under NSUS Malta Limited and got approved. GGPoker decided to pull out of the Dutch gaming market a few years ago in preparation to enter the licensed gaming market while its main rival PokerStars continued to operate in the Netherlands.
PokerStars has now been given an official warning to exit the Netherlands from November 1 or face penalties since the KSA only wants licensed operators to offer online games and betting to Dutch players. PokerStars will now have to sit out for 6 months to meet the cooling-off period requirement imposed by the Dutch regulator.
After sitting out for 6 months, PokerStars can then apply for an online gaming license if it wants to. PokerStars will most likely have to wait for another 6 months or more as the KSA tends to take its time with a lengthy and detailed review process.
This gives GGPoker at least a year to establish itself in the Netherlands and capture as much market share as possible. GGPoker and PokerStars continue to fight it out in the United States to be the number one player when it comes to cash game traffic.
While GGPoker will be the biggest name in the online poker market, it will face competition from some of the smaller brands. Holland Casino is the biggest live casino in the country and has plans to launch online poker services using a skin from the iPoker Network. Holland Casino and Playtech have been in partnership for a long time and the Playtech platform will be used to launch both online casino and poker services.
GGPoker could also face competition from Bet365 who could also launch a skin via the iPoker Network but so far Bet365 hasn’t confirmed it if will roll out online poker services in the Netherlands.
