New information on the Central Exclusion Register

The entry into force of the Remote Gambling Act (which will amend the Betting and Gambling Act, so as to enable the licensing of remote gambling) introduces important new tools to combat gambling addiction. One of these instruments is the Central Exclusion Register (Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen), also known as CRUKS. Before a player can gamble, a gambling operator must check that the player is registered in CRUKS. When a player is registered in CRUKS, the player may not be admitted to the game of chance (to this effect, Article 33h will be introduced in the Betting and Gaming Act).

In March 2020, the Netherlands Gambling Authority (the regulatory authority within the Dutch gambling sector) had planned CRUKS information meetings for land-based gambling operators (gaming halls and casinos). Due to the Coronavirus these meetings have been cancelled. Therefore, the Netherlands Gambling Authority has decided to publish the information on its website. Below is a brief overview of the relevant information about CRUKS provided (which concerns land-based operators, but also provides an insight for remote gambling operators). More information about the impact of the Coronavirus on the Dutch gambling sector can be found here.

Both land-based and remote gambling operators must connect to CRUKS. All operators will need to implement a software program to enable the link with CRUKS. The connection to CRUKS can be made in several different ways. However, the software program of the gambling operator will have to be authenticated before such a connection can be made. The Netherlands Gambling Authority has indicated that it will announce the precise connection procedure, and the specific technical requirements, by May 2020.

The way in which the CRUKS-system operates, can be described in three steps:

1. The registration of players in CRUKS. A player can be registered in CRUKS either voluntarily or involuntarily. When registering on a voluntary basis, the player can sign up by himself via a web page. Registration on an involuntary basis will take place by the Netherlands Gambling Authority. Usually involuntary registration will happen at the request of the gambling provider or someone within the player’s vicinity (i.e. friends or family).

2. The consultation of CRUKS by the gambling provider. CRUKS must be consulted before a player is granted access to the gambling service.

3. The CRUKS system makes a connection between the registration and the consultation (the gambling operator). The system indicates whether the person in question is registered (HIT) or not (NO HIT). If the player in question is registered, he/she must be refused access to the gambling service provided by the operator.

The Netherlands Gambling Authority advises gambling operators to consult with (software) suppliers of identification and verification systems. The Netherlands Gambling Authority also recommends combining the link to the CRUKS system with the visitor registration and age verification (these requirements are introduced in lower regulations under the Remote Gambling Act, the Remote Gambling Decree). In addition, it is already possible for licensed land-based operators to start the abovementioned authentication process of their software programs.

Interested in the licensing process for remote games of chance? More information can be found on our page Dutch licence for online gambling.

Kalff Katz & Franssen attorneys-at-law is the law firm in the Netherlands focussed on the gaming and gambling sector.