Michel Groothuizen to Assume the Role of KSA Chairman in July

In October, the Netherlands Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), announced it would search for a new chairman after René Jansen confirmed his plans to leave the organization. Several months have passed since then and the gambling regulator recently confirmed that it found a successor for the chairman role. The KSA revealed that it selected Michel Groothuizen, an expert with decades of experience, for the role of chairman of its Board of Directors.

Although the announcement came recently, there are a few months before Groothuizen will assume the new role with the KSA. The gambling regulator revealed that its new chairman’s appointment is effective as of July 1, 2024. Succeeding Jansen, Groothuizen brings extensive knowledge, expert advice and a deep understanding of the Dutch gambling industry.

Throughout his professional career, Groothuizen played an important role in the establishment of the KSA. He said that this was one of his many tasks some 15 years ago. “Old love never dies. From 2007 onwards, as policy director, I was responsible, among other things, for the gambling dossier. One of my tasks was to establish the Gaming Authority. We succeeded in 2012,” explained KSA’s upcoming chairman.

Groothuizen said that while he participated in the establishment of an effective gambling legislation, the complex process has taken nearly 10 years. “I was long gone by then. But I think it is a wonderful challenge at this time to ensure safe gambling in a socially responsible manner and to combat negative consequences, such as gambling addiction,” he added.

The New Chairman Brings Significant Experience

Throughout his extensive career, Groothuizen accumulated significant knowledge and a wide range of skills. Currently, he holds the role of deputy director of the Judicial Institutions Service. Before that, Groothuizen was a general director with the Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry. His professional tenure includes a director and policy director role at FEZ with the Ministry of Justice and Security’s administrative department.

Recently, a grandparent whose underage grandson gambled away €162,000 filed a lawsuit. The legal claim targeted Bingoal with the plaintiff alleging the gambling company did not intervene when the teenager spent hundreds of thousands. Although the total losses were in the ballpark of half a million euros, only €162,000 was wagered with Bingoal.