In a recent three-hour debate on the Dutch gambling sector, the House of Representatives signaled a commitment to boost enforcement against illegal gambling sites. This discussion, held within the Gambling Committee, addressed critical issues such as the underground market, advertising regulations, and the legal gambling age limit, currently set at 18.
Ten committee members from various political parties engaged with several research papers, industry reports, and a letter from Justice State Secretary KT van Bruggen, dated April 2026. They recognized the concerning drop in legalized gambling participation, with the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) estimating that channelization has fallen below 50%.
Despite varying opinions on many topics discussed, the need for stricter measures against illegal markets garnered unanimous support from representatives of parties like ChristenUnie, PRO, and SGP. They pressed the government to adopt stronger actions to block unauthorized websites, similar to the current protocols for addressing terrorism and child exploitation content online.
The legislators advocated for enhanced authority for the KSA to hold responsible payment processors, social media platforms, and affiliate marketers that contribute to illegal gambling operations. Van Bruggen informed the committee that the government is crafting legislation aimed at implementing DNS blocking for illegal sites, with consultation expected to begin in early 2027.
A point of attention was the advertisements for illegal gambling sites proliferating on social media. The Dutch gambling sector is pursuing legal avenues against Meta to combat this issue. Van Bruggen indicated that both Meta and Google are receptive to ongoing discussions about addressing illegal gambling promotion. She assured that reports detailing illegal gambling advertisements on these platforms would be submitted to the government every six months, highlighting the importance of addressing these challenges at the EU level through the Digital Services Act.
Members from the VVD party underscored the need for a firmer approach toward these major tech companies regarding gambling advertisements.
Moreover, the legal gambling age was a topic of contention again, as some politicians suggested increasing it to 21, citing concerns about the potential risks associated with gambling behavior. This is not a new proposal; a bill in 2025 had aimed to raise the threshold for "higher-risk" activities such as online slots. Van Bruggen expressed the need for further evaluation to determine if raising the age limit would inadvertently push young individuals towards unregulated platforms.
Among the advocates for the increased age limit were SGP's Diederik van Dijk and CDA's Tijs van den Brink. Van Dijk additionally called for a complete rollback of the 2021 online gambling legalization that set the framework for the current regulated market, criticizing tax increases and added restrictions that have burdened licensed operators. He also proposed an outright ban on all forms of gambling advertising, including for state-owned entities like Holland Casino and the Nederlandse Loterij, raising concerns about their roles in managing gambling-related harms.
In response, Holland Casino CEO Petra de Ruiter emphasized her commitment to player protection strategies in the casino's offerings, noting the establishment of a responsible gambling board that includes scientists and experts promoting accountability in their practices.
Throughout the debate, the focus remained on enhancing supervision and safeguarding players. Ultimately, Van Bruggen concluded that prioritizing black market enforcement will be crucial, and discussions about raising the gambling age may occur later, contingent upon effectively addressing illegal operations. "It is time to properly tackle that illegal offer so that we can consider moving towards an age increase if necessary," she said, acknowledging the need for careful assessment moving forward.
