Motions Filed to Ban “Buy Now, Pay Later” Options at Online Casinos in the Netherlands
Two motions were submitted in the Dutch House of Representatives on Thursday calling for a ban on “buy now, pay later” payment methods at legal online casinos. The motions, from Member of Parliament Lahlah (GroenLinks-PvdA) and members Ceder and Bikker (ChristenUnie), specifically target the use of Klarna on gambling websites. The use of such payment methods is already prohibited and therefore not offered at legal online casinos in the Netherlands.
According to the proposers of the two motions, the use of “buy now, pay later” services poses a risk of gambling addiction and debt problems. The government is therefore requested, through both motions, to intervene and ban these payment methods in all forms on gambling sites.
The motion by Ceder and Bikker explicitly names legal online casino bet365 as a provider where payment can be made afterwards with Klarna. However, bet365 offers deposits via Sofort, a payment solution that falls under parent company Klarna. This payment method works via direct bank transfer and not via a “buy now, pay later” option.
If you choose Klarna as a payment method at bet365, you are redirected to Sofort for a direct payment. Paying afterwards is not possible.
Gambling Decree
In the Remote Gambling Decree, which is a separate legal framework within the Remote Gambling Act, Article 4.2 states the following:
The license holder does not offer credit to players. They do not mediate in the provision of credit to players. They do not offer other services and goods that could harm or hinder confidence in the responsible, reliable, and verifiable organization of the licensed games of chance.
This article prohibits license holders from legally offering online gambling on credit. A “buy now, pay later” payment option, as suggested in the motion, is therefore already prohibited.
Similar Uproar in the United Kingdom
A misunderstanding about the use of Klarna as a payment method on gambling site Betway led to an uproar in the United Kingdom in 2021. When a Twitter account shared a screenshot of Klarna as a payment option at Betway, many people expressed their concerns because they thought players could gamble on credit.
It later turned out that Betway, like bet365 in the Netherlands, offered the variant of Klarna where payments are processed directly via a bank transfer, without the possibility of paying afterwards.
In the case of bet365 in the Netherlands, a stir also arose a week ago after a user posted a video on TikTok about the Klarna payment method. However, the user was quickly pointed out in the comments that paying afterwards was not possible. The video has been viewed almost 380,000 times and shared more than 20,000 times.
MOTION OF MEMBERS CEDER AND BIKKER
Plenary debate (two-minute debate) – Two-minute debate Poverty and debt policy (CD 22/5)
The House,
Having heard the deliberations,
Noting that it is possible to deposit money into your account with the online gambling provider bet365.com via BNPL provider Klarna,
Considering that gambling with money that is not your own is a major risk factor in light of gambling addiction and the associated (debt) problems,
Requests the government to tackle the abuse of being able to pay with BNPL providers such as Klarna on gambling sites with a firm hand,
And proceeds to the order of the day.
Ceder
Bikker
MOTION OF MEMBER LAHLAH
Plenary debate (two-minute debate) – Two-minute debate Poverty and debt policy (CD 22/5)
The House,
Having heard the deliberations,
Noting that gambling websites actively offer the option to pay via credit services such as Klarna;
Considering that this can lower the barrier to gambling and thus encourage addiction and debt problems;
Requests the government to prohibit payments via “buy now, pay later” services in every form for gambling websites,
And proceeds to the order of the day.
Lahlah
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