The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has published three in-depth studies shedding light on the growing trend of gambling among minors and young adults in the Netherlands, noticing that this behavior often starts before individuals reach the legal gambling age of 18.
The studies reveal a significant increase in account registrations as young people celebrate their 18th birthday and highlight variations in gambling habits based on age.
During a review of account registrations from May 1-7, 2025, KSA discovered that 15,761 new gambling accounts were funded. The data indicates that individuals aged 18-24 represent 33% of these new accounts, with a striking 41% of those accounts opened by individuals who had just turned 18. Notably, there was a pronounced spike in registrations on or shortly after their birthday. In the 2024-25 period, 11% of the accounts opened by new 18-year-olds were registered on their birthday, with 38% created within the following month. Contrary to the expectation that sports betting would be predominant, 72% of new accounts were initiated with casino games, while only 11% began with sports betting.
Additionally, the average young adult engaged in gambling on four days per month during their first quarter of activity, with median daily stakes of €111 compared to €209 for older adults. The analysis shows that while 18-year-olds gamble more frequently, they tend to wager smaller amounts than those aged 19-24. Accounts dedicated to casino-only or sports-only gambling showed stable patterns in the second month, whereas those with dual-product usage often shifted towards casino-only gambling.
Research from a study titled "Kansspelreis < 18 jaar in beeld," conducted by Youngworks and commissioned by ZonMw, investigated the gambling behaviors of 50 young people aged 16 to 21 through qualitative methods. The findings suggest that many individuals first encountered gambling between the ages of 8 and 12, often through family activities like Christmas scratchcards, lotteries, and simple betting games at home. Most of the participants did not recognize these early activities as gambling. As they reached ages 12 to 14, they began to gamble independently, mainly in social settings. Activities included wagering with friends, poker games, and football-related betting pools. This social atmosphere has contributed to the normalization of gambling behavior among adolescents. Many minors are known to bypass age restrictions by utilizing online gambling accounts managed by older acquaintances or family members and pooling resources through mobile payment platforms such as Tikkie. Popular gambling services mentioned included TOTO, Bet365, BetCity, and Unibet, alongside frequent exposure to gambling promotions on platforms like TikTok and during sporting events.
In June, the government proposed a near-total ban on online gambling advertising, allowing only a few exemptions. Van Bruggen expressed concern about the increasing number of young people gambling online and the associated issues, asserting that it is crucial to reverse this trend. The advertising of state lotteries on platforms designed for younger audiences surprised many participants in the study.
Another study analyzed survey data from 29,724 MBO students (a type of vocational school after secondary education) aged 15 to 24 between 2024-26. Approximately 32% reported gambling within the past year, comprised of 28% of minors (15-17 years) and 39% of adults (18+). Most students participated in gambling infrequently, with "once or a few times a year" being the most common frequency (74% of minors and 61% of adults). However, 10% reported gambling monthly or more frequently. Minors primarily engaged with physical gambling products, such as scratchcards (46%), bingo (34%), or slot machines (28%), while those aged 18 and over preferred casino games (46%), scratchcards (35%), and sports betting (32%). Nearly half of the minors gambled solely through physical venues, while young adults increasingly combined offline and online gambling methods.
Around half of both minors and two-thirds of adult gamblers participated in high-risk gambling activities including casino games and sports betting. About 2% exhibited signs of gambling-related harm, often linked to online participation and the use of multiple gambling products. Among those who do not gamble, 90% do not wish to start, although males demonstrated a higher likelihood of intending to gamble.
In a related development, local politician Meryam Sümer from the CDA (Christian Democratic Party) has proposed raising the minimum age for online gambling from 18 to 24. This suggestion follows findings that one in five young people in Enschede are in debt. She emphasized the need to mitigate temptations by advocating for stricter regulations to protect the youth from exposure that could lead to gambling problems or debt accumulation. This proposal has generated controversy, with the KSA chairman expressing concern that such a change could drive young people towards the black market for gambling, potentially putting them at greater risk. He noted in a blog post that minors are already turning to illegal gambling channels, warning that banning access to legal options could expose them further to gambling dangers.
