In a recent debate held by the Dutch House of Representatives, lawmakers committed to intensifying enforcement against illegal gambling websites. The three-hour discussion addressed vital aspects of the Netherlands' gambling landscape, including the prevalence of the black market, advertising practices, and the legal age limit for gambling, which stands at 18.
Ten members of the Gambling Committee, representing a range of political parties, examined several research papers, sector activity reports, and a letter from Justice State Secretary KT van Bruggen dated April 2026. The committee acknowledged that the channelisation rate—the share of online gambling handled by licensed operators—has fallen below 50%.
Despite varied opinions on many topics, there was a consensus among Dutch MPs on the urgent need to tackle the illegal market. Parties such as ChristenUnie, PRO, and SGP all voiced support for ramping up enforcement against illicit operators.
Lawmakers urged the government to enhance efforts to block illegal websites, drawing parallels to existing government authority to swiftly deal with terrorist and child pornography sites.
A push was made for granting the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the national gambling regulator, stronger powers to penalize payment providers, social media platforms, and affiliates that aid illegal gambling activities. During the session, Van Bruggen disclosed that the cabinet is working on new legislation aimed at introducing DNS blocking for illegal gambling sites, with a public consultation planned for early 2027.
Concerns were raised regarding the rising advertisements for illegal gambling sites on social media. The KSA has initiated legal action against Meta over this matter. Van Bruggen stressed that both Meta and Google have expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue, stating, "Meta, especially as one of the parties, but also Google, is really open to this conversation." The government will receive biannual reports on illegal gambling ads on these platforms and plans to address the matter within the broader framework of the EU's Digital Services Act.
Some members of the VVD party called for a tougher approach to these major tech companies.
Additionally, the discussion turned to the legal gambling age, with proposals suggesting an increase from 18 to 21. This idea is not new; a 2025 bill previously sought to raise the age for certain high-risk gambling activities, including online slots. Van Bruggen argued that more time is needed to evaluate whether increasing the age limit would inadvertently drive young people towards unlicensed operators. Advocates for the age increase included SGP’s Diederik van Dijk and CDA’s Tijs van den Brink. Van Bruggen assured that the topic would be revisited in forthcoming progress reports.
Van Dijk pressed for a total repeal of the Netherlands' 2021 online gambling legalization, which established a thriving legal market. He raised concerns about the tightening of player restrictions and increased taxes since that time, which have adversely affected licensed operators. Van Dijk also argued for a complete ban on gambling advertising, including promotions for lotteries and land-based casinos, expressing skepticism about the government's oversight of state-owned entities like Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij when it comes to managing gambling risks.
In a statement last week, Holland Casino CEO Petra de Ruiter highlighted the organization's commitment to player protection, noting their responsible gambling board, which includes experts and stakeholders. The board meets quarterly to review processes and provide feedback on the operator's practices.
Ultimately, the secretary of state concluded that efforts to strengthen enforcement against the black market would take precedence, while the proposal to increase the gambling age would be reconsidered once the illegal market issue is more effectively managed. "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," she stated.
