Dutch Justice and Security State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen announced a package of online gambling restrictions on June 12, proposing a near-total advertising ban, bonus prohibitions, overarching deposit limits, and affordability tests for players seeking higher limits. The measures respond to findings that licensed operators' share of Dutch gambling spending fell below 50% in the first half of 2025, according to data from the KSA (Kansspelautoriteit), meaning unlicensed operators now capture the majority of gambling money in the country. Van Bruggen cited particular concern that more people, especially young people, have started gambling online and encountered problems. The shift to illegal operators followed earlier tightening measures including monthly deposit limits of €700 (€300 for 18-to-24-year-olds) and gambling-tax increases from 30.5% to 37.8%. The cabinet paired the proposed ban with commitments to tougher enforcement, acknowledging that tens of thousands of illegal sites remain active in the Netherlands, with crypto and anonymous payments cited as aggravating factors in the country's largest illegal-gambling case.
Dutch Cabinet Proposes Near-Total Online Gambling Ad Ban and Bonus Prohibition
The June 12 announcement outlined a prohibition on bonuses such as sign-up free bets, an overarching deposit limit across licensed platforms, and an affordability test for players who want to raise the limit. The cabinet is also studying a cap on the number of online licenses. The measures require legislation before taking effect. The Netherlands already restricts gambling ads heavily -- a role-model ban and a prohibition on untargeted advertising have been in force since 2022 and 2023 -- but officials concluded young people still see too much promotion. The government signaled it will only revisit raising the minimum online gambling age from 18 to 21 once enforcement against illegal operators is effective, deeming the step too risky before then.
Licensed Operators' Share Fell Below 50% in First Half of 2025
In its 2025 annual report, the KSA said channelization by spend fell below 50% in the first half of 2025, even as roughly 94% of players stay registered with licensed sites. This shift followed earlier tightening measures: monthly deposit limits of €700 (€300 for 18-to-24-year-olds) and gambling-tax rises from 30.5% to 37.8%. The pattern echoes Belgium and Italy, where ad bans coincided with black-market growth. One study put the Dutch illegal share above 35% by late 2023, up from about 20% in 2021.
Nederlandse Loterij Filed Lawsuit Against Qbet in April 2026
The scale of illegal operations surfaced in April when state lottery operator Nederlandse Loterij sued the operators of Qbet, the largest unlicensed Dutch platform, at The Hague. The KSA's record €24.8 million fine was branded too low by its own chair -- Dutch law caps penalties at 10% of global turnover. Crypto and anonymous payments were cited as aggravating factors in a market where half of spend flows to unlicensed sites.
Affordability Study Expected in First Half of 2027 Before Deposit Cap Takes Effect
Van Bruggen acknowledged the risk that the ban must be built with enforceability in mind to prevent evasion. The bill must clear the House of Representatives. The affordability study underpinning the deposit cap is not expected until the first half of 2027. The central question remains whether stripping licensed operators of advertising and bonuses protects players, or hands the offshore market -- flagged by regulators for crypto and anonymous payments, and beyond the reach of Cruks, the national self-exclusion register -- a larger share of a market it is already winning.
FAQ
What did the Dutch government announce on June 12 regarding online gambling?
Dutch Justice and Security State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen announced a package proposing a near-total ban on online gambling advertising, a prohibition on bonuses such as sign-up free bets, an overarching deposit limit across licensed platforms, and an affordability test for players who want to raise it. The cabinet is also studying a cap on the number of online licenses.
Why did licensed operators' share of Dutch gambling spending fall below 50% in the first half of 2025?
The KSA reported that channelization by spend fell below 50% in the first half of 2025 following earlier tightening measures including monthly deposit limits of €700 (€300 for 18-to-24-year-olds) and gambling-tax increases from 30.5% to 37.8%. Unlicensed operators now capture the majority of gambling money in the country, even as roughly 94% of players stay registered with licensed sites.
What role did crypto payments play in the Netherlands' largest illegal-gambling case?
In the April 2026 lawsuit filed by Nederlandse Loterij against Qbet operators at The Hague, crypto and anonymous payments were cited as aggravating factors. The case involved the KSA's record €24.8 million fine, which the regulator's own chair deemed too low under Dutch law that caps penalties at 10% of global turnover.
