The Netherlands Gambling Authority was established in 2012. It is governed by a Board of Directors. The board members are appointed and dismissed by the Ministry of Justice and Security, but are independent in their decision-making.
Board of directors
Michel Groothuizen
Michel Groothuizen is the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit). Previously, he served as Deputy Director of the Netherlands Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) for over four years. From 2015 until 2020 he was the Managing Director of the Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, NIFP. During these years, he was also a member of the Provincial Council of Utrecht. Before that, he worked at the administrative department of the Ministry of Justice and Security, as Policy Director and Director of Economics. Groothuizen holds a Master’s Degree in both Law and Public Administration from Leiden University.
Areas of responsibility:
- Communication & Strategy
- Legal Affairs & Licensing
- Analysis & Research
Bernadette van Buchem
The vice-chair of the Netherlands Gaming Authority is Bernadette van Buchem. She previously served as Consumers Director at the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets. Prior to that, she held various positions via ABD Interim. From 1985 to 2005, Bernadette van Buchem worked for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Her positions there included Deputy Secretary-General and Director of Internal Affairs. Bernadette van Buchem studied law at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Since March 2021, she has also served as secretary at Stichting Leergeld Den Haag.
Areas of responsibility:
- Enforcement
- Monitoring
- Business Operations
- Information Technology & Automation
- Online Duty of Care
Committees and councils
The Ksa has an Advisory Committee for notices of objection. The Advisory Council of the Ksa provides the organisation with solicited and unsolicited advice. And finally, in the event of requests for involuntary registration of betting and gambling activities in the Central Exclusion Register (Cruks), the Board of Directors can seek advice from a pool of experts. These external experts provide independent advice.
Internal organisation
The Netherlands Gaming Authority consists of eight departments:
- Monitoring
- Enforcement
- Legal Affairs & Licencing
- Analysis & Research
- Information Technology & Automation
- Communication & Strategy
- Business Operations
- Online Duty of Care