After years of talking about it, it is going to happen: a cashless play system for arcades.

The change in legislation is one of the elements of the mitigating measures to compensate operators for the negative influences of the tax increase, the lack of VAT compensation, and the smoking ban. Notes, smartcards, and TiTO systems are from now on allowed, but there is one condition, you need a grant of exemption from the Ministry.

Interpretation of requirements

Although the Netherlands are now ready for cashless playing in arcades, the implementation will take some more time. Some problems, mostly related to interpretations of the requirements, need some clarification before the systems can actually get the exemption. For example, requirements like waiting times, maximum value of metered credit in case of insertion of coins or the equaled value of it, etc.

However, these uncertain points are expected to be solved in the short term. The first system is expected to be certified and put into use by the beginning of 2012.

These systems are incredibly advanced and manufacturers of gaming machines are expected to put a lot of work into it to make this work. In order to be able to connect gambling machines to the various systems, they should at least communicate according to the VAN (Vereniging Automaten Nederland) protocol 17+, 18F or higher, including all extra options.

Procedure

The final steps are taken at the moment of writing and we are ready for a new era. Let us hope that the results will match the high expectations.

What’s the procedure to obtain the grant of exemption:

• Testing of the system (this includes everything connected, machines excluded unless they fail to communicate with the VAN protocol) by NMi or any other appointed lab;
• Testing of the Arcade by the same lab that approved the system (unique for every location);
• Test reports will be send to the KSA with a request to grant a exemption
• Final functionality testing of the total system and generation of the inspection report by the lab
• KSA issues the official exemption for a fixed period of time.