The Dutch cabinet is taking steps to reduce the problems caused by online gambling, including raising the minimum age for “risky” games to 21 and imposing limits on how much punters can gamble.

In addition, legal protection minister Teun Struycken said after the weekly cabinet meeting, advertising for gambling will be further restricted, and it will become easier to block illegal gambling sites operating in the Netherlands without a permit.

The online gambling market was legalised in the Netherlands in 2021, leading to growing concerns about its impact, particularly on young people.

“Gambling has become normalised for youngsters,” Struycken said. “At the same time, we know they are especially vulnerable to addiction. And once you are addicted, it is difficult to quit.”

The Dutch gaming authority reported on Friday that, since legalisation, more people have started gambling online and more individuals are experiencing difficulties. Problem gamblers are also increasingly turning to illegal sites.

The authority said Dutch gamblers spent an estimated €300 million on illegal gambling sites in the final three months of last year.

New rules introduced last October have had an impact, the authority said. Since then, gambling companies have been required to contact players directly if they wish to set a monthly limit above €350. Players under 24 are restricted to a legal maximum of €150 per month.

Previously, one in 10 players sought to spend more than €700 per month and that figure has since dropped to 4%, the authority noted.

The government’s new regulations will include a central registry to track gambler spending and prevent users from circumventing limits by opening multiple accounts with different websites.

Struycken said he hopes the draft legislation will be ready by the end of the year.

Research

Last November, the government’s research agency WODC reported that legalising online gambling in the Netherlands has led to a rise in addiction, particularly among young adults, and requires urgent reform.

In January 2024, the national addiction watchdog warned that tens of thousands of people have suffered financial difficulties due to how online gambling was legalised three years ago.

Since 2021, a series of reports have highlighted how legalisation has contributed to a surge in gambling addiction and debt. Currently, 27 companies operate under 37 different labels with a license in the Netherlands.