The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ gambling regulator, has initiated two public-awareness campaigns designed to foster early discussions about gambling among young people and facilitate access to help. Announced on Monday, these campaigns target not only teenagers and young adults but also their families, friends, and caregivers who might identify warning signs of gambling-related issues.
Set to launch in early November, the OpenOverGokken campaign is aimed at parents of individuals aged approximately 16 to 25. This initiative encourages these caregivers to engage in conversations about gambling before problems emerge, considering it a topic that should be addressed alongside discussions on sex and online safety. The campaign is supported by OpenOverGokken.nl, an information portal introduced in 2025, which provides independent resources and tools to aid parents in initiating these critical conversations.
In parallel, the second initiative under the Gambling Stop (Gokstop) framework is directed at young adults who are currently facing gambling challenges or are at heightened risk. This campaign conveys the message that the decision to stop gambling does not need to stem from a crisis; it can be made proactively at any time. It also empowers families and friends to recognize potential issues and support individuals in taking the first step toward participating in the national self-exclusion and support program.
These campaigns signify a departure from the previous Gokstop messaging that focused primarily on life after ceasing gambling, instead highlighting the importance of early detection and accessible support. They utilize relatable everyday scenarios to make the act of seeking help more approachable.
The KSA underscores that young people frequently encounter gambling through social media, online videos, advertisements, and in-game content. In light of this, local politician Meryam Sümer from the CDA (Christian Democratic Party) has advocated for national measures to increase the minimum legal age for online gambling from 18 to 24.
The KSA plans to release follow-up data and evaluation results to assess the effectiveness of these campaigns, with metrics potentially including shifts in public awareness, traffic to OpenOverGokken.nl, and registrations with Gokstop.
This campaign follows the KSA’s recent annual and semi-annual reports revealing that individuals aged 18 to 23 make up about 22% of legal gambling accounts while constituting only 9.2% of the adult population. In the first half of 2026, young adults in this age group experienced an average monthly loss of €34 on their gambling accounts.
Moreover, the KSA observed a significant increase in account registrations coinciding with users’ 18th birthdays, noting that in 2024-25, 11% of accounts belonging to 18-year-olds were registered on their actual birthday, and 38% were created within the month following their birthday.
