Dutch Gambling Watchdog Casts Doubt on New Government’s Crackdown Plans

The Netherlands’ gambling regulator is sounding the alarm as the country’s incoming minority government prepares to implement sweeping new restrictions on the industry.

In a carefully worded blog post published Monday (February 16), Michel Groothuizen, chair of the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), outlined the regulator’s concerns about key elements of the coalition agreement under Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

The coalition document, which spans 70 pages, includes a section titled “Nuchter beleid: drugs, gokken en sekswerk” (“Sober policy: drugs, gambling and sex work”). While Groothuizen acknowledged alignment on core objectives like protecting vulnerable players and combating illegal gambling sites, he raised serious questions about two headline proposals: a complete ban on online gambling advertising and a cap on the number of operating licenses.

The Advertising Ban Debate

The push for stricter advertising restrictions has been gaining momentum in Dutch politics. Christian Union leader Mirjam Bikker has been particularly vocal, arguing that existing limitations haven’t gone far enough to protect young people and vulnerable consumers from gambling marketing.

The coalition has now embraced this tougher stance, but Groothuizen isn’t convinced it will achieve the desired results. According to the KSA’s data, Dutch consumers encounter tens of thousands of gambling promotions monthly on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with the vast majority coming from illegal operators. Licensed companies, by comparison, account for roughly 2,000 ads per month.

“This means the only consequence of the proposed advertising ban could be that players are pushed further away from the regulated market,” Groothuizen warned in his blog post.

License Cap Concerns

The regulator also expressed skepticism about plans to limit the number of available licenses. With around 30 legal providers currently operating in the Netherlands, Groothuizen questioned the practicality and fairness of implementing an arbitrary cap.

“From a supervisory standpoint, drawing an arbitrary line that allows provider X and Y but excludes Z, despite comparable offerings, would be difficult to defend,” he wrote. He also cast doubt on whether such a cap would meaningfully reduce either advertising volumes or overall participation in gambling activities.

Fiscal Pressures Loom

Beyond advertising and licensing, the coalition is reportedly considering significant fiscal changes. Previous reports from ReadWrite indicated the government may raise gambling tax to as high as 37.8%, a move that could further squeeze licensed operators and potentially affect channeling toward the legal market.

A Call for Cooperation

Despite these reservations, Groothuizen struck a cooperative tone, emphasizing that the regulator and the incoming cabinet share common goals. “On the main goals — protecting vulnerable people and tackling illegal gambling — there is no light between the aims of the cabinet and those of our regulator,” he wrote.

He stressed that regulation and firm enforcement remain indispensable in keeping the market safe, and that the KSA stands ready to work with the incoming cabinet as policy details take shape.

The regulator’s public caution marks a significant moment in Dutch gambling policy, as the KSA appears to be positioning itself as both a partner and a watchdog to the new government’s ambitious reform agenda.

Tags

Dutch gambling regulation, Netherlands gambling watchdog, Kansspelautoriteit, Rob Jetten government, gambling advertising ban, gambling license cap, illegal gambling sites, player protection, Mirjam Bikker, online gambling policy, Dutch coalition agreement, gambling tax increase, regulated gambling market, social media gambling ads, vulnerable consumer protection

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