The Netherlands’ new regulated online gambling market won’t launch for another year-and-a-half, according to the country’s top gambling regulator.

On Wednesday, René Jansen, chairman of the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) gaming regulatory body, told attendees at the Gaming in Holland conference that the regulator was aiming for a July 1, 2020 target for the country’s new Remote Gambling Act – which was approved back in February – to take effect.

Only after the Act is official – and the Ministry of Justice and Security finishes crafting the nuts and bolts of online gambling regulations – will the KSA start accepting online license applications, and Jansen suggested the ensuing vetting process will delay the actual launch of Dutch-licensed online gambling operators until January 1, 2021.

However, Jansen (pictured) invited would-be applicants to visit the KSA’s website and fill out a form stating an operator’s intention to apply for a new online license. Jansen urged interested parties to fill out these forms before June 21.