Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling authority, is considering implementing stricter guidelines for operators regarding how they can influence the behaviour of players.
The statement follows the authority gaining insight into this area via research from the agency Behavioural Insights Nederland, who were commissioned by the KSA to investigate behavioural influence on online gambling platforms. The research’s outcomes are expected to “further focus on improving the duty of care of online providers”.
Operators use behavioural influence towards players in positive and negative ways, according to the KSA, such as positively by offering options to pause their account, as well as negatively by making it easy for new customers to place high wagers.
The KSA noted that the latter is “particularly dangerous for players prone to addiction, who are thus conditioned to play more”.
As a result of the findings, the KSA will launch an investigation into the negative forms of behavioural management by operators to examine the extent to which they violate the duty of care. Depending on its outcomes, stricter guidelines may be implemented for operators.
“At the KSA, we understand that online providers, like other commercial companies, monitor what users do on their platforms and how they can influence that to their advantage,” commented Michel Groothuizen, Chair of the KSA.
“Thanks to this research, we have a better understanding of how they do this and can also provide more guidance on negative influence and things we no longer want to see.”
Earlier this month, the KSA also described the current risk analysis system in the regulations as “not functioning optimally”, incurring significant costs and little additional protection for players.
The statement follows a report published by the KSA – Study report on risk analyses of games offered by licensed online gambling operators – which examined the risk analysis of game offerings operators conduct to determine the level of risk and to meet duty of care standards to prevent gambling addiction.
