The autoplay option is prohibited in the Netherlands, but a recent incident has prompted the gambling regulator to issue a reminder
The Kansspelautoriteit, or the Dutch Gambling Authority, has published a new notice on its website, cautioning companies against breaching rules that have to do with the autoplay functionality & option.
Autoplay Warning Issued to Unnamed Operator
Autoplay has been one of the game features to have been disabled in the country, with the regulator citing concerns that its use can lead to addictive behavior or contribute to losses that far exceed the original intent or put people into debt.
The regulator has previously indicated that 1% of players could be contributing for as much as 43% of the gross gaming revenue generated by the industry. A translated statement on the regulator’s website read:
“The Ksa received a signal that a player at an online roulette table could automatically continue playing with the previous bet after winning; it was not removed from the table. After investigating the signal, the Ksa concluded that this was indeed autoplay.”
KSA
The regulator has found a particular unnamed operator in the licensed market to have offered this autoplay option for a game of roulette, prompting the watchdog to issue a formal warning to the company.
The game in question was also taken down temporarily from the website, with a review pending of the game to ensure that the autoplay option has indeed been removed.
KSA Monitors for Infringements, Does Not Release Names for Minor Offenses
The regulator similarly acknowledged that it was possible for a simple misunderstanding to have occurred and refrained from issuing financial penalties against the operator.
The authority said that it was customary for operators to use third-party software, which could become pre-configured, and in some rare instances, it’s possible for a supplier to have overlooked an important detail.
In the meantime, the regulator has also noted that its most recent report analyzing match-fixing trends in sports has indicated a growth of such incidents over 2024.
