Stricter deposit limits in the Netherlands have driven down excessive gambling, but new data from the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) shows this success may be fueling growth in the unlicensed market.
Since the second half of 2024, tighter rules require players to engage with licensed operators before setting deposit limits above €350 per month (€150 for those aged 18–24). Additional affordability checks are mandatory for deposits exceeding €700 (€300 for young adults). If a player fails the check, further deposits are blocked for the rest of the month.
These changes have had a clear impact. The share of players depositing more than the limit fell from 9.7% to 2.2% among adults, and from 12% to 1.9% for young adults. Meanwhile, the portion of players losing over €1,000 dropped from 4% to just 1%.
Player Losses Down 31%
The average monthly loss per player account has declined by 31%, from €116 to €80. The number of accounts per player remained steady at 2.4, indicating users aren’t bypassing restrictions by opening multiple accounts.
Legal operators, however, saw an 8% year-on-year drop in gross gaming revenue.
Illegal Market Interest Rising
Despite these positive signs, search volume for the top 100 illegal gambling sites has increased. VNLOK, the Dutch gambling trade body, warned that vulnerable groups—especially heavy bettors and young adults—may be shifting to unregulated operators.
VNLOK chair Björn Fuchs highlighted the concern: “The illegal market continues to attract those most at risk, including minors and high-stakes players.”
While the KSA reports a 93% channelisation rate—indicating most players still use legal sites—actual gambling spend tells a different story. Industry estimates put the regulated market’s share closer to 50%, suggesting high-value players are disproportionately using illegal platforms.
Calls for Balanced Regulation
Following its merger with NOGA, VNLOK has urged the KSA to consider the unintended consequences of overregulation. The group advocates for firm action against illegal operators but warns that piling on new rules may drive players away from the legal market.
More Restrictions Likely
KSA head of market supervision Renske Fikkers has signaled that stricter rules could be coming, pointing to persistent compliance failures and political pressure. A full advertising ban is now seen as a real possibility.
