KSA: René Jansen to exit as chair of Dutch regulator
Jansen will not stand for reappointment as he will reach retirement age at the end of 2023. His current term as chairman is due to end on 1 October 2024.
Jansen will exit KSA after six years at the helm. During his tenure, the Dutch gaming market underwent major change, with the major development being the launch of regulated online gambling in October 2021.
While chairing KSA, Jansen also had spells as chair and vice-chair of the Gambling Regulators European Forum.
Prior to joining the regulator, Jansen was president of the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network. He has also served in senior roles with a host of other organisations. These include the International Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands and Greenpeace.
In addition, he worked in several positions within the Dutch government.
“’In recent years I have committed myself to the KSA’s mission of safe play with great energy and pleasure,” Jansen said. “There are many great challenges for the new chairman.
“KSA has an important role as a supervisor and enforcer in the various gaming markets. This management position is challenging, requires creativity, innovation and decisiveness, but above all has great social value.”
KSA has now launched a recruitment process to secure a replacement. Its next chairman will be appointed by the minister for legal protection and serve a six-year term.
The proposed date of Jansen’s resignation is 1 July 2024.
Dutch net gaming revenue up 85% in 2022
News of Jansen’s departure comes as KSA this week published its annual report. The Dutch regulated market generated €3.4bn (£2.95bn/$3.59bn) in net gaming revenue (NGR) in 2022.
The report is based on 2022 – the first full calendar year for the Dutch online gambling market. NGR for 2022 was up by 85.0% from €2.0bn in 2021.
KSA said this was due to a rise in online gambling and land-based play, particularly as Covid-19 pandemic restrictions lifted. Land-based venues were closed in the Netherlands until 25 January 2022, with restrictions still applying until 25 February 2022.
Online casino made up 56% of the licensed market share. Sports betting, meanwhile, remained one of the Netherlands’ smallest gambling sectors with 9% market share.