The annual Dutch survey on the state of online gambling showed that the market was maturing, but the legal market’s recognition by the public barely increased.
Gamblers increase, but risk gamblers remain stable
Since 2021, the Netherlands Online Gambling Association’s (NOGA) Online Gaming Barometer is a report that tracks the market online. It was conducted by IPSOS, a market research and opinion specialist.
The latest consumer survey shows that the Dutch are now gambling more online than they were two years ago. However, the number of people who gamble with unlicensed providers is on the decline. 94% of Dutch players choose the safer and more responsible environment of licensed gambling providers.
The NOGA barometer showed that 14% (up from 11%) of adults in the country gamble online. This is an increase compared to the previous report. Like last year, the majority of online players are men or young adults. However, the proportion of young players has increased from 21% to 30%.
It is also evident that the players prefer to play on their smartphones. Online sports betting and online casinos are their favorite gambling verticals.
Young adults are more likely to gamble at risk due to the growing number of players. This increase is from 8% up 14%. Researchers believe that this trend may continue with the growth of the market. They also point out that gambling providers have a responsibility to limit this rise.
The share of gambling that is risky in the country has not increased significantly despite the rise in gamblers. Most players believe gambling addiction to be a serious problem.
There are Fewer Ads, but Recognising the Brands is Still a Challenge
Nearly 9 out of 10 Dutch respondents expect gambling companies to inform them about the risks of online gambling.
Contrary Franc Werwind, Dutch Minister for Legal Protection believes, the survey revealed encouraging results as less participants had seen gambling advertising in the last year.
The gambling regime has failed to deliver in the area of public recognition for legal providers. This has not increased or barely increased, since the legalization online gambling on October 20, 2021. More than two thirds of players are unable distinguish between an authorized operator and offshore provider.
Peter-Paul de Goeij, director of the NOGA, said that this is a very important area for the market. He stressed that it should be easy to identify safe licensed providers.
He concluded: “It’s up to us and the government to make licensed gambling even safer over the next few years, protecting online gamblers better, while keeping the licensed offering attractive enough to keep people away from illegal activity.”
