Dutch gambling regulator questions coalition plans on ads licenses
The Netherlands’ gambling watchdog is taking a measured but unmistakably cautious tone as a new minority government prepares to take office in The Hague.
In a blog published on Monday (February 16), Michel Groothuizen, who chairs the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), laid out how the Dutch regulator views the coalition agreement under Prime Minister Rob Jetten. He said the document sketches out the cabinet’s direction on online gambling and makes clear there is overlap on key objectives, even as certain proposals raise red flags for the authority.
The coalition, formed after snap elections, devotes part of its 70-page accord to what it calls “Nuchter beleid: drugs, gokken en sekswerk” (“Sober policy: drugs, gambling and sex work”). Within that section, ministers promise stricter duty-of-care obligations for online operators and a tougher approach to illegal gambling sites. On those points, Groothuizen signaled broad agreement, noting that protecting vulnerable players and driving out black-market providers sit at the heart of the KSA’s mandate.
Dutch gambling ads and licensing: policy points with pitfalls
Tension emerges, however, around two headline measures. This includes a complete ban on online gambling advertising and a plan to limit the number of licences available to operators.
Calls for an outright advertising ban have been gaining political traction for months. Christian Union leader Mirjam Bikker previously pushed for a sweeping prohibition, arguing that existing restrictions have not gone far enough to shield young people and vulnerable consumers. The coalition has now embraced that tougher line.
Groothuizen acknowledged that public irritation with the industry’s flashy image is real and that television spots and sports sponsorships have already been heavily curtailed. But he argued that the digital landscape tells a different story. According to the regulator, Dutch consumers are exposed each month to tens of thousands of gambling promotions on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and the vast majority originate from illegal operators. By contrast, licensed companies account for roughly 2,000 ads a month.
“That means the only consequence of the proposed advertising ban could be that players are pushed further away from the regulated market,” Groothuizen wrote.
He voiced similar doubts about capping the number of online licences. Around 30 legal providers currently operate in the Netherlands. From a supervisory standpoint, he suggested, drawing an arbitrary line that allows provider X and Y but excludes Z, despite comparable offerings, would be difficult to defend. He also questioned whether such a cap would meaningfully reduce either advertising volumes or overall participation.
Beyond advertising and licences, the coalition is also weighing fiscal changes. Previous reporting from ReadWrite has indicated the government may raise gambling tax to as high as 37.%, a move that could further squeeze licensed operators and potentially affect channeling toward the legal market.
Even so, Groothuizen struck a cooperative note. “On the main goals — protecting vulnerable people and tackling illegal gambling — there is no light between the aims of the cabinet and those of our regulator,” Groothuizen wrote. He added that regulation and firm enforcement remain indispensable in keeping the market safe, and that the KSA stands ready to work with the incoming cabinet as the policy details take shape.
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