BetBlocker has teamed up with L&L Europe to develop a gambling block application in the Dutch language, as the Netherlands moves closer to launching its first regulated online betting and gaming market.
After entering discussions with BetBlocker founder Duncan Garvie, the two organisations made the decision to cooperate on a Dutch language gamlbing block application. L&L Europe has promoted BetBlocker to its UK customers since 2018.
“The BetBlocker tool is useful for any player who needs help to manage their gambling regardless of where in the world they live,” said Duncan Garvie, Trustee and Founder of BetBlocker.
“We have wanted to expand BetBlocker into other languages for a long time. However the challenges of sourcing charitable funding limits our capacity to provide multi-language support, and with the majority of our funding coming via the UKGC licensing system, that funding has to be targeted towards supporting UK players primarily.”
L&L Europe will provide resources to translate the BetBlocker website and application into Dutch, and will also assist in ensuring customers in the Netherlands have easy access to support services in their native language.
The collaboration begins ahead of the launch of the Netherlands’ first regulated online gambling market, due to officially commence on 1 October 2021, under the terms of the ‘Remote Gambling Act’ (KOA Act).
It was confirmed in April that over 28 operators applied with the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands regulatory body for betting and gambling, to join the upcoming marketplace, having opened the licensing window at the start of the month.
The upcoming Dutch regulated betting space has been highlighted as Europe’s next breakout market for igaming and sports betting by EveryMatrix.
Jan Wienk, Marketing Manager and Head of Product Development at L&L Europe emphasised that the firm is ‘really looking forward to kick-off this project and enhancing an already proven safer gambling tool,’ whilst also acknowledging that the product is ‘recognised by the UKGC as effective support for problem gamblers as part of their recovery program’.
He added: “It is also great that further commitment to develop this product coming from Feite Hofman, owner of ‘Pas op met gamen en gokken/Be careful with gaming and gambling’ offering his full support to this project.”
Feite Hofman, owner of ‘pas op gamen en gokken’ also commented: ‘A safer gambling tool like ‘BetBlocker’ doesn’t exist in the Dutch language, as far as I know. I’m glad to deliver my part at this project, although we know that safer gambling tools are not the solution for gambling addiction. It will definitely enlarge the awareness about the risks of gambling too much.’
