The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the regulatory body for gambling in the Netherlands, has initiated two public-awareness campaigns aimed at fostering discussions about gambling among young people and their families. Announced on Monday, the campaigns seek to engage teenagers and young adults, along with their parents and close relatives, to help recognize potential gambling-related issues early on.
The first campaign, OpenOverGokken, is set to launch in early November and targets parents of individuals aged 16 to 25. It encourages them to initiate conversations about gambling as a proactive measure, likening the topic to important discussions around sex and online safety. This initiative is supported by OpenOverGokken.nl, an information portal launched in 2025 that provides independent resources to help parents facilitate these discussions.
Another aspect of the campaign, branded as Gambling Stop (Gokstop), specifically aims at young adults who may be dealing with gambling problems or are at heightened risk of developing such issues. The message emphasizes that opting to stop gambling does not require a crisis; it can be a decision made at any time. Additionally, Gokstop encourages the family and friends of at-risk individuals to recognize warning signs and take the first step toward utilizing national self-exclusion and support services.
This new direction marks a departure from previous Gokstop messaging, which tended to focus on life after ceasing gambling. The current approach prioritizes early detection and easier access to help, portraying the initial step as manageable through everyday scenarios.
The KSA has noted that social media, online videos, advertising, and in-game content are prevalent avenues through which young people encounter gambling. In response to these concerns, local politician Meryam Sümer of the CDA (Christian Democratic Party) is advocating for increasing the minimum legal age for online gambling from 18 to 24.
The KSA is expected to release data and evaluations in the future, measuring the effectiveness of these campaigns through changes in public awareness, website engagement on OpenOverGokken.nl, and participation in Gokstop.
This campaign initiative follows the KSA’s recent reports, which revealed that individuals aged 18-23 made up approximately 22% of legal gambling accounts, despite constituting about 9.2% of the adult population. In the first half of 2026, young adults in this age group reported an average monthly loss of €34 on their gambling accounts.
The KSA also identified a marked increase in account registrations coinciding with users' 18th birthdays. In the 2024-25 period, 11% of accounts were created on the users' birthday, with 38% registered within the following month.
