In response to the findings from the recent evaluation of the country’s gambling policies, the Netherlands’ Minister of Legal Protection has emphasised the need for new legislation to better regulate the sector.

In a letter sent to the House of Representatives, Minister Teun Struycken said the evaluation revealed significant gaps in consumer protection and proposed a series of legislative changes aimed at mitigating the risks associated with gambling, particularly for vulnerable groups.

The minister’s policy letter outlines a shift in the government’s approach to gambling regulation, which has largely moved in a more restrictive direction since the 2021 market launch.

Struycken said: “My vision is fundamentally different on a number of points. Experiences within the market for remote gambling show that the previously chosen approach is problematic. I attach great importance to protecting people.

“In this respect, the protection of minors and young adults is particularly important, because they are more vulnerable to the risks of gambling and to prevent further normalisation of gambling.

“That protection is therefore paramount in my vision and concerns not only the policy on remote gambling, but also the policy on physical gaming machines, scratch cards, lotteries and small games of chance such as bingo.”

While previous policies largely focused on player responsibility and market-driven solutions, Struycken argued the new vision would prioritise consumer protection and harm prevention.

The minister added that the existing Betting and Gaming Act (KOA) does not provide sufficient safeguards against the risks posed by online gambling, leading to an increase in problem gambling, particularly among young adults.

The core principle of the new policy is to limit both player choices and the discretion of gambling providers in determining protective measures, he said.

Key legislative changes

The minister has proposed a range of measures to strengthen gambling regulations.

One change would involve amending the Betting and Gaming Act to shift its emphasis from commercial interests to consumer protection.

Stronger restrictions on high-risk gambling products, such as online slot machines, may be introduced to curb addiction.

Tighter advertising regulations will follow a “prohibited unless permitted” approach, allowing only necessary promotions.

The minimum age for participating in high-risk gambling activities will be raised to 21, which Struycken said would reinforce safeguards for younger players.

The duty of care for operators will be significantly enhanced, requiring providers to implement stricter intervention guidelines to prevent addiction.

A central deposit limit with financial capacity checks will be introduced to prevent excessive losses and protect consumers from falling into financial distress.

Additionally, regulators will gain new enforcement powers to crack down on illegal gambling activities, enabling authorities to take stronger actions against unauthorised operators and their facilitators, such as payment processors and online platforms.

The minister aims to finalise concrete policy proposals in 2025, with the goal of introducing a formal legislative package by 2026.

Dutch government to boost black market efforts

The minister added that he was exploring how the government would be able to combat illegal gambling and would seek to put the issue on the agenda at a European level.

This would entail countering operators’ access to banking services, internet platforms and other stakeholders.

In response to the letter, the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) issued a reply.

The trade association’s acting director Eric Konings said: “The members of NOGA stand for a safe and responsible gambling offer. That is why we support the idea of ​​no longer focusing solely on addiction prevention in the gambling policy, but to strive for the prevention of gambling-related harm. Gambling should be a source of entertainment, not a source of problems.

“We are also pleased to hear that combating illegal supply is given greater priority. We have been expressing our concern about the size of the illegal market for some time now, and the figures published today by the Gaming Authority show that of every euro gambled in the Netherlands, half is now wagered with illegal providers.

“The regulator indicates that it needs more resources to take a stand against this, and we hope that they will get them.

“A number of policy proposals of the Cabinet, such as raising the minimum age to 21, could further increase the flight towards the illegal market that is currently taking place. “However, we will await the further elaboration of this before we can give a detailed response.”

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