Peter-Paul de Goeij, who has served as the director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) since 2019, will step down from his role effective July 1. NOGA has stated that De Goeij will be emigrating away from the Netherlands. With De Goeij’s departure, Eric Konings will assume the role of interim director. Konings has been associated with NOGA since 2022 and will be supported in his new capacity by Frans van Steenis, the former chief executive of Staatsloterij.
Remko de Boer, chairman of the NOGA board of directors, expressed gratitude for De Goeij’s significant contributions during his tenure. “We are very grateful to Peter-Paul for his efforts over the past five years, in which he excellently shaped the transformation from SpeelVerresponsible to NOGA,” said De Boer. “This has enabled NOGA to properly represent the interests of its members, in a tumultuous time for the industry.”
Reflecting on his time at NOGA, De Goeij remarked, “The past few years have been hectic, with the opening of the Dutch online gaming market as an absolute highlight. I am now stepping down, but I am convinced that the sector will continue to make efforts to provide a safe and responsible gaming offering. That is and remains the best way to achieve optimal consumer protection.”
NOGA has outlined that De Goeij’s departure provides an opportunity for the organization to undergo a “strategic reorientation” amidst challenging times in the Netherlands. The reorientation will focus on addressing the emerging challenges in the Dutch online gambling sector and setting a new course for the organization’s future.
Eric Konings, in his interim role, stated his commitment to working closely with Van Steenis to shape the future direction of NOGA. “The industry is facing some major challenges in the current political and social climate, and I look forward to helping NOGA members achieve this,” Konings explained. “In addition, NOGA is explicitly considering how the representation of the industry’s interests can be organized in a future-proof manner.”
Frans van Steenis echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of greater clarity and cooperation within the sector.
. “A lot is happening in the gaming sector at the moment. Licensed providers, policymakers, and society benefit from more clarity and better cooperation. I want to explore how bridges can be built between all those involved in the gambling dossier.”
De Goeij’s departure and NOGA’s forthcoming strategic reorientation come amidst significant regulatory changes and proposals within the Dutch gambling industry. Untargeted advertising was banned in July 2023, followed by a House vote to prohibit all online gambling advertising in April of this year. Included alongside this legislation was a ban on “high-risk gambling,” which notably encompasses online slots.
Despite the House vote, the fate of the proposed law remains uncertain. The legislation had been sent to Franc Weerwind, the Netherlands’ Minister for Legal Protection, for review. However, with Weerwind expected to leave his position soon amid governmental reshuffles, the law’s future is unclear.
Adding to the regulatory landscape, another contentious proposal involves increasing the gambling tax to 37.8%. This proposal emerged as part of a coalition agreement between four political parties: PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB. The prospective tax hike is expected to generate an additional €202 million annually for the state treasury from gambling tax contributions.
The Dutch gambling sector’s transformation and NOGA’s strategic reorientation underscore a period of significant change and recalibration. The departure of De Goeij, a pivotal figure in NOGA’s evolution, marks the end of an era while also heralding a new phase of opportunities and challenges. As Konings and Van Steenis take the helm, the focus will be on navigating these complexities and steering NOGA toward a sustainable and future-proof strategy for the industry’s representation and regulation in the Netherlands.
