The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands' gambling regulator, has kicked off two public-awareness campaigns aimed at promoting early discussions about gambling and facilitating help for youth.
On Monday, the KSA announced these initiatives focused on teenagers and young adults, along with their parents, relatives, and friends, who may notice signs of potential gambling harm.
The OpenOverGokken campaign, set to launch in early November, targets parents of teenagers and young adults aged approximately 16 to 25. It seeks to encourage caregivers to initiate conversations about gambling proactively, similar to discussions about sexuality and online safety. This initiative builds on OpenOverGokken.nl, an informational portal established in 2025 that provides resources and tools to help parents begin these critical dialogues.
Additionally, the Gambling Stop (Gokstop) initiative is aimed at young adults currently facing gambling issues or those at risk. This initiative emphasizes that the decision to stop gambling can be taken at any moment, not just during a crisis. It also encourages friends and family to identify potential gambling problems and guide individuals toward seeking help through the national self-exclusion and support program.
Together, these campaigns signify a shift from previous Gokstop messaging, which centered on life after quitting gambling, to focusing on early identification of issues and accessible pathways to help. Everyday scenarios are utilized to make taking the first step feel achievable.
The KSA highlights that social media, online videos, advertisements, and in-game content are common exposure points for young people related to gambling. In light of this, Meryam Sümer, a local politician from the CDA (Christian Democratic Party), has advocated for raising the legal online gambling age from 18 to 24.
Follow-up evaluations and data from the KSA are anticipated, with effectiveness measures likely including shifts in public awareness, usage of OpenOverGokken.nl, and registrations with Gokstop.
This campaign emerges just a week after the KSA released its annual and semi-annual reports, noting that individuals aged 18-23 represented approximately 22% of all legal gambling accounts while constituting only about 9.2% of the adult population. In the first half of 2026, the average loss per month for accounts held by 18-23-year-olds was €34.
Moreover, an earlier survey showed a significant uptick in account registrations on or shortly after individuals’ 18th birthdays. In the 2024-25 period, 11% of accounts created by 18-year-olds were established on their birthday, with 38% opened within the month thereafter.
