State Secretary for Legal Protection, Teun Struycken, has outlined a major overhaul of Dutch gambling regulations, emphasizing the protection of young adults and minors. The proposed changes, expected to be formalized by the end of 2025, include raising the minimum age for certain high-risk gambling activities to 21, tightening deposit limits, and increasing enforcement against illegal operators.

Struycken has announced plans to introduce a law that will impose a minimum age of 21 for gambling activities deemed high-risk, such as online slots. This move aligns with a broader initiative to enhance responsible gambling measures, following evaluations that found the existing Remote Gambling Act (KOA) has not sufficiently mitigated gambling-related harm.

“The most important principle in the new vision is the protection of all citizens against the risks of negative effects of gambling, such as addiction or debt,” Struycken stated according to NL Times. Special attention is being given to young adults and minors, who have shown higher susceptibility to gambling-related issues.

Additionally, an overarching deposit limit will be introduced to prevent players from bypassing restrictions by gambling across multiple platforms. Players who wish to exceed set deposit limits will need to prove they have the financial capacity to do so. This builds on the Dutch Gambling Authority’s (KSA) existing mandatory deposit limits, which currently stand at €300 for those aged 18-24 and €700 for older players.

Regulatory Crackdown on Illegal Gambling

The government is also working to combat illegal gambling activities more aggressively. The KSA will receive increased authority to block unlicensed gambling sites and work directly with internet providers and financial institutions to disrupt illegal operators. The regulator will also gain new powers to suspend licenses of legal operators failing to meet compliance standards.

Despite the tightening regulations, concerns remain that raising the legal gambling age could drive younger players towards the black market. The Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) has warned that the current measures already push significant amounts of gambling activity to illegal platforms, estimating that half of gambling-related money flows outside the legal market. “The regulator indicates that it needs more resources to take a stand against this, and we hope that they will get it,” said NOGA director Eric Konings.

Future of the Dutch Gambling Market

The shift in Dutch gambling policy reflects a broader governmental stance that gambling-related harm extends beyond addiction, encompassing financial risks and social consequences. The Scientific Research and Data Centre (WODC) has been advising on these reforms, emphasizing that the current system places too much responsibility on players. Their research revealed that 18% of young adult gamblers exhibited high-risk behaviors, a much higher percentage than the general gambling population.

In response, Struycken has pledged to bring discussions on illegal gambling from the Netherlands to the European level, advocating for a collaborative approach to tackling unregulated markets across EU member states.