In a recent debate held by the Dutch House of Representatives, members expressed a strong commitment to intensifying enforcement against illegal gambling sites. This three-hour session was part of the Gambling Committee's ongoing discussions regarding various aspects of the gambling sector, including the illegal market, advertising practices, and the minimum legal age for gambling, currently set at 18.
During the debate, all ten committee members, representing a broad spectrum of political viewpoints, reviewed several research documents, activity reports from the sector, and a letter from Justice State Secretary KT van Bruggen dated April 2026. This correspondence highlighted the risks associated with gambling and noted that the KSA (Kansspelautoriteit), the Netherlands' gaming authority, has reported a decrease in channelization levels below 50%.
Despite differing opinions on various issues, there was unanimous agreement among Dutch MPs regarding the illegal market. Parties such as ChristenUnie, PRO, and SGP voiced their strong support for heightened measures against black market operators, urging the government to expedite efforts to block illegal websites similar to the protocols in place for addressing terrorism and child exploitation material.
Additionally, representatives called for enhanced regulatory powers for the KSA, advocating for stricter actions against payment processors and social media platforms that enable illegal gambling. Van Bruggen announced that the government is developing legislation aimed at implementing DNS blocking for unauthorized gambling sites, with a consultation scheduled for early 2027.
The debate also touched on the alarming proliferation of illegal gambling advertisements on social media, a concern the sector has tackled through legal means against platforms like Meta. Van Bruggen mentioned, "Meta, especially as one of the parties, but also Google, is really open to this conversation." She pledged that the government would receive biannual updates regarding illegal gambling promotions on these sites and noted the need for an EU-level resolution via the Digital Services Act.
Members from the VVD party advocated for a tougher stance against major tech companies regarding their roles in the gambling landscape.
Another significant topic of discussion was the legal gambling age, with some lawmakers suggesting it should be raised from 18 to 21. This isn't the first time the conversation has surfaced in parliament; a bill introduced in 2025 already proposed this change for higher-risk activities such as online slots. Van Bruggen emphasized the importance of thorough analysis before rushing to increase the age limit, cautioning that such a change might unintentionally push young people towards unlicensed gambling options.
Among those championing an increase in the age limit were SGP's Diederik van Dijk and CDA's Tijs van den Brink. Van Bruggen indicated that this issue would be revisited in future updates.
Van Dijk also argued for a comprehensive repeal of the Netherlands' 2021 online gambling legalization, which had paved the way for a more regulated gambling market. He expressed concerns about the implementation of tighter regulations and elevated taxes on licensed operators in recent years and suggested a complete ban on all gambling advertising, including that of lotteries and land-based casinos.
Moreover, he raised questions regarding the government's relationship with state entities such as Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij, particularly in their efforts to mitigate gambling-related harms. Petra de Ruiter, CEO of Holland Casino, responded previously, affirming their commitment to player protection.
The ongoing discussions focused on enhancing supervision and player protection, with Van Bruggen stating that prioritizing black market enforcement would be essential before revisiting the possibility of increasing the gambling age. She remarked, "It is time to tackle that illegal offer properly, so that we can move towards a time when we need to consider an age increase. If that turns out not to be necessary, then we don't do it."
