KSA Redraws Its Governance Model

KSA Redraws Its Governance Model

The Dutch Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has introduced a revised governance model that will define how gambling oversight in the Netherlands is organised from 2026 onward. The changes, effective from 1 January 2026, arrive at a moment when the regulatory framework itself is under review and political uncertainty continues to slow legislative progress. Against this backdrop, the KSA has opted to recalibrate its leadership structure and internal organisation to improve regulatory clarity and operational focus.

At the centre of the reform is a new board model. The authority will now be led by a single full-time chair, supported by two part-time directors. This structure replaces the previous arrangement and is designed to allow the board to concentrate more clearly on strategy, governance, and long-term priorities, while operational responsibilities are distributed across newly defined internal units. According to the KSA, the revised setup reflects the increasing demands placed on gambling supervision since the legal online market opened in 2020.

Michel Groothuizen will remain as chair and continue to oversee the regulator's day-to-day operations. His role also includes representing the KSA in domestic policy discussions and international regulatory cooperation. While his position remains unchanged, the scope of the board around him will shift. The appointment process for the two new part-time directors is already at an advanced stage, with candidates expected to bring experience in governance, institutional integrity, and digital transformation. Their function is intended to be advisory as much as supervisory, offering critical input as regulatory priorities evolve.

Alongside changes at board level, the KSA has reorganised its internal departments into three main directorates. These will focus on Player Protection and Management Advice, Permits and Supervision, and Digitalisation, Analysis and Business Operations. The regulator has presented this reorganisation as a way to simplify internal responsibilities and shorten decision-making processes. In practice, it also acknowledges that modern gambling oversight increasingly depends on data analysis, technical expertise, and coordinated enforcement rather than purely legal control.

The authority has pointed to several pressures driving the need for reform. Technological development has reshaped how gambling products are offered and consumed, while artificial intelligence and automated systems have added complexity to compliance monitoring. At the same time, the illegal gambling market has continued to adapt, often moving faster than regulators can respond. Cross-border cooperation has also intensified, requiring closer alignment with other European regulators. Within this context, the KSA has argued that its previous structure was no longer sufficient.

The governance transition also marks the end of Vice-Chair Bernadette van Buchem's tenure at the authority. Van Buchem has been a member of the KSA board since 2018 and departs after a long career in public administration. Her time at the regulator included the launch of the licensed online gambling market and the early enforcement phase that followed. Her departure marks a generational shift within the authority as it prepares for a new regulatory cycle.

These internal changes are unfolding as the Netherlands moves toward a broader overhaul of gambling legislation. The current Remote Gambling Act, which enabled online licensing in 2020, is set to be repealed and replaced in 2026. Lawmakers have repeatedly stated that the existing framework has not delivered the balance between consumer protection and market channelisation that was originally envisaged.

Progress on reform has been uneven. The collapse of the previous conservative coalition government led to snap elections in November 2025, temporarily stalling legislative work. Responsibility for gambling policy has remained with State Secretary for Legal Protection Arco Rutte, though this arrangement is expected to change once a new coalition is formed. Coalition negotiations are ongoing, with Democrats 66 leader Rob Jetten attempting to assemble a centrist government supported by multiple parties.

Despite the political uncertainty, there is a growing consensus within parliament on the direction of future gambling policy. Harm reduction has emerged as a central objective, with specific attention to younger consumers under 24. Lawmakers have signalled that tighter controls on product design, advertising practices, and player monitoring are likely to be part of the revised framework.

At the same time, the government has made clear that gambling taxation will not be reconsidered during the reform process. The planned increase in online gambling tax to 38 percent of gross gaming revenue by 2027 remains unchanged. This decision sets clear financial parameters for licensed operators and places additional emphasis on regulatory effectiveness rather than fiscal adjustment.

Groothuizen has publicly recognised that future policy must confront the most severe risks associated with gambling. He has highlighted the need to address extreme financial harm and suicide explicitly within regulatory thinking, rather than treating them as peripheral concerns. These remarks suggest a shift toward a more direct assessment of social impact within supervisory practice.