The Dutch authorities has unveiled a brand new package deal of playing reforms that may considerably tighten controls on the nation’s regulated on-line gaming sector. The proposals goal a number of areas without delay, together with promoting, promotional provides, participant spending limits, self-exclusion measures and enforcement towards unlicensed operators.
Justice and Security State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen introduced the plans on 12 June, arguing that stronger safeguards are wanted as on-line playing participation and gambling-related hurt have elevated since the Netherlands opened its regulated market in October 2021.
According to the federal government, younger adults stay notably weak to gambling-related debt and dependancy, making them a key focus of the proposed reforms.
“I find it particularly concerning that more and more people, and especially young people, have started gambling online and are getting into trouble as a result,” mentioned van Bruggen.
“It is high time to reverse this trend.”
The proposals will now be developed into laws whereas the federal government concurrently prepares a broader technique geared toward lowering gambling-related hurt over the long term.
Government Seeks End to Gambling Advertising and Bonuses
One of essentially the most important adjustments into account is an entire prohibition on on-line playing promoting. If accepted, licensed operators would not be allowed to advertise their merchandise by promoting campaigns.
The proposal follows a number of years of progressively stricter advertising restrictions. Dutch authorities first banned using function fashions equivalent to celebrities, athletes and influencers in playing ads. This was adopted by restrictions on untargeted promoting throughout tv, radio, print, public areas and social media. A ban on sports activities sponsorships took impact on 1 July 2025.
Despite these measures, policymakers concluded that playing promoting stays extremely seen, notably amongst youthful audiences.
The authorities additionally intends to ban bonuses and promotional incentives provided to draw clients. This consists of free bets and comparable rewards offered when gamers open new accounts.
“With the proposed measures, I am taking an important step to better protect people against the negative effects of gambling, such as addiction and debt,” van Bruggen mentioned, as reported by SBC Americas.
“Special attention is being paid to young people and young adults because they are particularly vulnerable to the risks of gambling.”
New Deposit Controls and Stronger Affordability Checks
Alongside advertising restrictions, authorities wish to introduce a centralized deposit restrict masking all licensed playing operators.
Players who want to exceed the usual threshold would first must go a monetary evaluation. The authorities is at the moment growing a means-testing system that may evaluation components equivalent to fee arrears, monetary circumstances and whether or not a person is topic to guardianship or administration.
Officials say the aim of the measure is to forestall losses that gamers can’t fairly afford.
The proposal builds on present restrictions already launched in 2024. Those guidelines established loss limits of €150 for gamers aged 18 to 23 and €350 for gamers aged 24 and older.
According to figures cited by the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA), requests to extend deposit limits fell beneath half of the regulated market’s participant base after these measures have been launched. The regulator additionally reported that the proportion of gamers exceeding month-to-month deposit thresholds dropped from 9.7% to 2.2%.
Data printed by the KSA additional confirmed common month-to-month participant losses lowering from €116 earlier than the boundaries have been carried out to €80 afterward.
The authorities however believes extra controls stay mandatory.
Focus Shifts to Self-Exclusion and Illegal Operators
The reform package deal additionally consists of additional adjustments to Cruks, the Netherlands’ nationwide self-exclusion register.
Authorities need gamers to have the ability to register voluntarily for an indefinite interval with out computerized removing from the system. The authorities additionally intends to simplify the method for members of the family and directors looking for to register somebody experiencing gambling-related issues.
Additional cooperation between therapy suppliers and Cruks can be deliberate, with the aim of enhancing entry to assist companies.
At the identical time, the cupboard has recognized unlawful playing as a significant enforcement precedence. Officials estimate that tens of 1000’s of unauthorized playing web sites proceed concentrating on Dutch customers.
To handle this challenge, the federal government plans to increase enforcement instruments. Proposed measures embrace blocking unlawful playing web sites and introducing clearer authorized obligations for firms that facilitate unlicensed playing exercise, together with fee suppliers and internet hosting companies.
The Netherlands has already pursued enforcement actions towards unlawful operators by the KSA. However, amassing penalties from firms working outdoors Dutch jurisdiction has confirmed troublesome.
The newest proposals counsel authorities could more and more deal with disrupting the infrastructure supporting unlawful playing operations moderately than relying solely on fines.
The reforms will kind a part of Van Bruggen’s wider Multi-Year Agenda for Protection towards Gambling Damage, which goals to extend public consciousness, enhance early intervention, strengthen participant protections and cut back the normalization of playing inside society.
The authorities can be inspecting whether or not limits needs to be positioned on the variety of on-line playing licences accessible within the Dutch market.
