In a recent debate held by the Gambling Committee, members of the Dutch House of Representatives pledged to enhance enforcement against illegal gambling websites. This three-hour session covered multiple facets of the Dutch gambling sector, addressing concerns related to the illegal market, advertising practices, and the legal gambling age limit of 18.
Committee members from various political backgrounds discussed numerous research papers and reports, including a letter dated April 2026 from Justice State Secretary KT van Bruggen. The correspondence highlighted rising gambling risks and noted that the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) estimated the channelisation rate had dipped below 50%.
Despite differing opinions on many topics, a consensus emerged regarding the illegal market. Representatives from parties such as ChristenUnie, PRO, and SGP called for intensified enforcement against black market operators. They urged the government to escalate its actions to block illegal websites akin to its measures against terrorist and child pornography websites.
The committee also advocated for extending KSA's authority, pushing for stricter actions against payment processors, social media platforms, and affiliates that support illegal gambling. In this context, van Bruggen revealed that the cabinet is drafting legislation meant to implement DNS blocking for illegal sites, with consultations expected by early 2027.
Concerns were raised about illegal gambling advertisements proliferating on social media, an issue that the sector has sought to address through legal challenges against Meta. Van Bruggen acknowledged that Meta and Google are receptive to dialogue on these matters, stating, "Meta, especially as one of the parties, but also Google, is really open to this conversation." Furthermore, the government will compile semiannual reports detailing illegal gambling advertisements on these platforms, with van Bruggen emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues at the EU level under the Digital Services Act.
Members from the VVD party urged a more aggressive approach toward major tech companies regarding gambling practices.
Debate over raising the legal gambling age to 21 from 18 resurfaced, with some politicians advocating for this change. This topic is not new; a bill proposed in 2025 suggested raising the age limit specifically for high-risk activities like online slots. Van Bruggen noted the need for careful consideration to avoid unintended consequences that could drive young people toward illegal gambling options.
Among those supporting the age increase were the SGP's Diederik van Dijk and the CDA's Tijs van den Brink, with the matter slated for discussion in future progress reports.
Additionally, van Dijk called for a complete reversal of the 2021 legalization of online gambling, which had fostered a mature legal market, as recent stricter regulations and increased taxes have burdened licensed operators. He also recommended banning all forms of gambling advertising, including for state-run lotteries and land-based casinos. Moreover, he challenged the government's involvement with state-owned entities like Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij in addressing gambling-related harms.
In response to the debate, Holland Casino's CEO Petra de Ruiter asserted the importance of the protective measures the casino has implemented, highlighting their responsible gambling board that collaborates with specialists and advocates to continually refine their processes.
Ultimately, the secretary of state indicated that prioritizing actions against the illegal market is essential before considering changes to the legal gambling age. She stated, "It is time to tackle that illegal offer properly, so that we can move towards a time when we do have to move towards an age increase. If that turns out not to be necessary, then we don't do it."
