The Dutch Minister for Legal Protection, Sander Dekker, will resign when the new government takes over on January 10th. Frank Weverwind will take his place.
Dekker, a member of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), stated he would not join Mark Rutte’s fourth cabinet following the general election in March 2021. Dutch political parties had difficulty forming a new government after the election.
Dekker, who has been responsible for the justice system since 2017, oversaw the legalization of online betting in the Netherlands. The Remote Gambling Act, which was passed after years of inactivity, came into force on April 1, 2021. Ten operators were permitted to start operations from October 1.
“For the prevention and correction of unfairness: in my opinion, that is what legal protection is all about. Of course, this work is never finished,” Dekker stated in a social media announcement of his departure.
“After almost a decade in the Binnenhof, I am going to do something different. What exactly, I haven’t figured out yet. To be honest, it excites me.”
While the People’s Party still holds the title of the largest political group following the recent elections, securing a greater number of seats in the legislative body, the position of Minister of Justice and Security will be assumed by Diederik Samsom, a representative of the centrist party D66. Samsom has held the role of mayor in Almere since September of 2015.
Today, the head of the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA), René Jansen, expressed gratitude to Dekker for his efforts in legalizing online gambling in a recent online post.
“I want to express my appreciation to Sander Dekker, Minister of Justice and Security, who is responsible for gambling policies, for his contributions to the productive collaboration we’ve experienced in recent years,” Jansen stated. “I have consistently emphasized that the KSA operates autonomously in its supervisory role, but it does not function in isolation. We have always been able to engage in discussions regarding policy matters.
“Under the leadership of Sander Dekker, the landscape of gambling has been transformed. He successfully guided the Remote Gambling Act through the legislative process. I consider this a positive development, as it enables us to provide enhanced protection for consumers against the evident risks associated with games of chance.”
Jansen continued by expressing his welcome to Samsom’s appointment and highlighted that to ensure the successful implementation of online gambling regulations, “there are still significant steps that need to be taken.”
“I anticipate the appointment of the new Minister of Justice and Security, Diederik Samsom,” he concluded.
Legalizing online wagering is the initial step in modernizing Dutch gambling regulations. However, as the government’s gambling policy document states, there is still room for enhancement in the way the market is overseen and regulated, for the benefit of all.
Jansen also penned a blog entry outlining upcoming developments for the following year. He cautioned gambling firms that they might encounter new legislation if they don’t reduce their advertising efforts. He indicated that “political tolerance” is waning.
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