The Netherlands – Turmoil or teething troubles?
In terms of legal, regulated gambling, the industry in the Netherlands is still in its infancy. It wasn’t until 2021 that online gambling became legalised and regulated and included the formation of the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA).
Recently, the Dutch industry has been displaying some pretty worrying symptoms, but the relative youth of the market makes it necessary to ask: Are these problems just growing pains, or do the issues run deeper?
What’s been happening in The Netherlands?
Recent gambling-related headlines in Holland have been concerned with a plethora of issues, all of them significant, some of them critical.
Unibet operator scolded
Optdeck, the operator of popular Netherlands gambling brand Unibet, has received a firm slap on the wrist for allowing players to place prohibited bets on a number of occasions between October 2022 and May 2025. The breach concerns certain restricted markets including, in football the awarding of corner kicks, yellow cards given, and matches that involve younger players.
This isn’t Unibet’s first warning, so Optdeck has been landed with a fine of €450k. In its official statement, the KSA commented that “Under Dutch gambling law, betting on certain matches and event components is prohibited.” Unibet had previously been fined €400k for breaking self-exclusion rules.
Considering the repeated nature of the breach, and the fact that Unibet had been given warnings which it failed to heed, a €450k fine seems almost lenient, especially when compared to some of the fines issued by other regulators, including the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), to operators.
And in Australia...
Also, only months ago, Unibet was fined AU$1,014,120 (around €575k) for failing to adhere to the rules of Australia’s self-exclusion system.
The KSA toughens up
As the KSA has only been around for a couple of years, it hasn’t had a chance to make amendments to regulations that affect many of the licences it has issued. The first wave of five-year licences are up for renewal in October 2026, and the KSA is preemptively tightening the rules for those who wish to renew.
To retain their licence, Dutch operators will need to provide anti-money laundering risk analyses and detailed plans that outline how the company would be wound down in the event of it being refused a licence. Operators will also be required to disclose any breaches, and resolve them or face strict rejection.
These new measures are a clear effort to address the current concerns the KSA is facing. The issue is that it will take some time for any positive effects to be felt.
Historically too soft?
Despite tightening regulations, the KSA’s approach is relatively soft-touch, compared to some of the more aggressive strategies being employed by operators around the world. Hopefully, this will enable the industry to adapt at a reasonable pace, and not shock players into jumping ship for offshore, black market sites.
Black market
One of the biggest concerns at the moment, which has likely prompted the KSA’s rule-tightening, is the flourishing black market.
Arguably, the KSA may be partially to blame for this situation. It is likely that some of the more stringent regulations introduced in recent years have caused many players to take to the black market.
Problem gambling
Rising rates of problem gambling are another major concern. This trend is believed to be a function of both increasing levels of noncompliant advertising, and the rising popularity of the black market.
In response, the KSA recently announced a new dedicated department to boost anti-problem gambling efforts. These aim to raise awareness and increase support for players.
Crucially, for any of these efforts to work, the KSA must tackle the black market gambling problem.
Advertising
There’s an ongoing, raging debate about gambling regulation in the Netherlands. The public are increasingly viewing gambling as a high-risk endeavour, and, to make matters worse, many operators have breached existing gambling advertising regulations.
Recently, Renske Fikkers of the KSA announced that a total ban on gambling advertisements was looking “increasingly realistic”. Critics suggest this is a heavy-handed move, and the KSA seems to be holding back on this for the time being. Watch this space.
Comparisons with other countries
Many of the problems that the KSA and the Netherlands are facing are also being felt in other territories around the world. What varies though is the different approaches taken by regulators.
Countries including the UK, Germany and Belgium are in comparable situations. The UKGC has been implementing new regulations since early 2023. Germany was one of the first countries to see an outflux of players in response to strict new regulations. And a recent report has revealed that large numbers of Belgians, particularly the young, are using illegal platforms.
Crackdowns and heavy-handedness
The responses of other regulators have generally been more severe. For instance, India recently issued a blanket ban on online real money games. Crackdowns in Turkey and Brazil have resulted in scores of social media influencers being arrested.
Both heavy-handed and softer-touch approaches have the potential to drive players to unlicensed markets. The KSA must be seen to be proactive, especially because of rising public concerns, but, ultimately, the only effective solution is to regulate legitimate operators in such a way that they can remain competitive.
Summary
In the grand scheme of things, the Dutch gambling industry and regulator are still finding their feet. The Dutch response to current issues has been more or less in line with those of other regulators, especially across Europe.
The KSA is in the process of tightening regulations. However, it needs to tread lightly. Any sudden movements could scare millions into the arms of the unregulated and, importantly for the Dutch government, untaxed, market.
General election
With a Dutch general election on the horizon, it’s crucial that gambling regulation is approached logically and responsibly, and not allowed to become just another piece of hollow political leverage, or a source of hasty, ill-considered ammunition for debates.
But, if the KSA, or any other regulator, manages to get this vital balance right, they will be rewarded with a healthy gambling industry, along with all of the tax revenues, employment opportunities and personal freedoms his brings.