In a recent debate, the Dutch House of Representatives moved towards intensifying enforcement against illegal gambling websites. This session, which lasted three hours, focused on various pressing matters within the Dutch gambling sector, including the illegal market, advertising practices, and the legal gambling age set at 18.
Ten committee members from a wide range of political parties examined a series of research findings and reports, alongside a letter from Justice State Secretary K. T. van Bruggen dated April 2026. This correspondence highlighted the risks associated with gambling and acknowledged that the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) estimated less than 50% of gambling occurred through legitimate channels.
Despite differing perspectives on multiple issues, all members of the Dutch parliament showed a unified stance regarding illegal gambling. Parties such as ChristenUnie, PRO, and SGP emphasized the need for increased enforcement against black market operators.
Legislators urged the government to enhance efforts to block illegal websites, drawing parallels to the existing capabilities used to swiftly deal with terrorist and child pornography sites. There was a consensus on granting additional authority to the KSA to take firmer action against payment service providers, social media platforms, and affiliates that enable illegal gambling.
Van Bruggen disclosed that the cabinet is working on new legislation to introduce DNS blocking for illegal sites, with plans for a consultation anticipated in early 2027. Lawmakers highlighted the concerning trend of illegal gambling advertisements proliferating on social media. The Dutch gambling sector has initiated legal actions against Meta in response to this issue. Van Bruggen remarked, “Meta, especially as one of the parties, but also Google, is really open to this conversation.” She noted that the government would receive biannual reports examining illegal gambling advertising on these platforms, stressing the necessity to address this at the EU level through the Digital Services Act.
Members from the VVD party called for a stronger approach towards these technology giants.
Another topic that emerged during the discussions was the legal gambling age. Some politicians suggested raising the limit from 18 to 21 years. This proposal is not novel; a 2025 bill had previously proposed this age increase specifically for "higher-risk" activities such as online slots. Van Bruggen pointed out that more analysis is necessary to determine whether increasing the age limit might inadvertently drive young people towards unlicensed gambling options. Among those advocating for this change were Diederik van Dijk of the SGP and Tijs van den Brink from the CDA. Van Bruggen confirmed that this concern would be revisited in future reports.
Van Dijk also called for a complete repeal of the Netherlands’ 2021 legalisation of online gambling, which was meant to foster a regulated gambling environment but has faced challenges due to increasing operational restrictions and taxation on licensed operators. Additionally, he suggested banning all gambling advertisements, encompassing lotteries and brick-and-mortar casinos. He questioned the government’s involvement with state-owned entities like Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij concerning assessing and managing gambling-related harms.
Petra de Ruiter, CEO of Holland Casino, expressed pride in the safeguards implemented for player protection across their offerings. The casino has established a responsible gambling board, comprising scientists, individuals with direct experiences, and their RG executives. This board convenes periodically to review current protocols, providing oversight and challenging the operator’s initiatives.
Much of the conversation centered on stricter regulation and enhanced protection for players. Ultimately, the Secretary of State indicated that addressing the illegal market would be the priority, with the legal gambling age under discussion once robust enforcement measures are established. "It is time to tackle that illegal offer properly so we can move towards a time when we may consider increasing the age, if necessary," she concluded.
