Dutch Lawmakers Demand Tougher Illegal Gambling Enforcement

Key Takeaways:

Dutch lawmakers call for tougher action against illegal gambling sites.
Broad political support exists for stronger enforcement measures.
Government plans DNS blocking legislation for illegal gambling sites.
KSA needs greater powers against payment providers and affiliates.
Channelisation to the legal market has fallen below 50%.
Concerns raised about illegal gambling advertisements on social media.
Justice State Secretary engaging with Meta and Google on advertising.
Debate included raising the legal gambling age from 18 to 21.
Black market enforcement will be prioritized in the Netherlands.

Dutch lawmakers have called for tougher and faster action against illegal gambling sites, with broad support across political parties for stronger enforcement. This issue was a key focus of a three-hour Gambling Committee debate on Thursday, which also covered gambling advertising, player protection, and the legal gambling age.

Context and Legislative Demands

Ten committee members discussed research papers, industry reports, and a letter from Justice State Secretary KT van Bruggen regarding gambling risks. The debate highlighted the Kansspelautoriteit’s (KSA) estimate that channelisation to the legal market had fallen below 50%. Despite differences on other issues, Members of Parliament (MPs) across the political spectrum agreed on the need to strengthen enforcement against illegal operators, working within the broader iGaming licensing framework. Lawmakers specifically called for measures to block illegal gambling websites. They also urged the government to grant the KSA greater powers to act against payment providers, social media platforms, and affiliates that facilitate illegal gambling.

Government Response and Industry Impact

Justice State Secretary Van Bruggen stated that the government is developing legislation to introduce DNS blocking for illegal gambling sites, with a public consultation anticipated in early 2027, affecting the Netherlands online casino market. MPs also voiced concerns about illegal gambling advertisements appearing on social media platforms. Van Bruggen confirmed that the government is engaging with Meta and Google on this issue and will receive bi-annual reports on illegal gambling advertising on these platforms. She also suggested addressing the issue at the EU level through the Digital Services Act. VVD lawmakers specifically urged the government to adopt a “harder stance” towards major technology platforms.

Broader Regulatory Discussions

The committee also debated whether the legal gambling age should be raised from 18 to 21. SGP MP Diederik van Dijk and CDA MP Tijs van den Brink were among those supporting this increase. However, Van Bruggen indicated that more evidence is required to determine if raising the age could push younger players towards unlicensed gambling sites. The government plans to revisit this issue in future progress reports. Additionally, Van Dijk advocated for a reversal of the Netherlands’ 2021 online gambling legalisation and proposed a ban on gambling advertising, including promotions for lotteries and land-based casinos. He also questioned the government’s role in state-owned gambling operators Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij. The secretary of state concluded that increasing black market enforcement would be prioritized in the Netherlands, affecting how online casino payment methods are processed, with the gambling age review to follow once the illegal market is under control.