New Measures Cut Dutch Gambling Losses, KSA Reports

The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has released its latest monitoring report, which underscores the beneficial effects of the new responsible gaming policies implemented in October 2024. These policies have led to a notable reduction in player losses and a significant decrease in extreme losses. Despite these positive changes in the legal gambling sector, there has been a marked increase in spending within the illegal gambling market.

Impact of Player Protection Measures

The gross gaming result (GSR), which is the difference between stakes and payouts, reached €1.47 billion in 2024, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous year. However, a 10% decline was observed in the second half of 2024 compared to the first half, largely due to the European Football Championship and the implementation of stricter player protection rules, including mandatory deposit limits. The KSA's report indicates a significant shift in player behavior following the introduction of these new rules. Prior to October 2024, 4% of player accounts lost over €1,000 monthly, accounting for 73% of the operators' GSR. Post-implementation, this figure dropped to 1.2% of accounts, contributing only 23% to the GSR, showing that operators are now less dependent on high-loss players.

The report also focuses on young adults aged 18 to 23, a demographic identified as vulnerable by Dutch law. Despite making up only 9% of the adult population, they contributed 11% to total gambling losses in the second half of 2024. On average, these young adults lost €48 monthly, significantly less than the €148 lost by those aged 24 and above. Young players exhibited a higher inclination towards sports betting, with 29% of their gambling expenditure going towards sports events, compared to 22% for older players. This group, though more represented in gambling losses, tends to bet smaller amounts.

Trends in Player Accounts and Market Dynamics

In the second half of 2024, the average number of active gambling accounts per month was 1.19 million, up from 1.1 million in the previous six months. This increase coincided with the rollout of the responsible gaming measures, leading to a surge in new account creations. However, the number of accounts does not necessarily reflect the number of individual gamblers, as many maintain multiple accounts. The KSA estimates that about 788,000 individuals gambled with licensed operators during the last six months of 2024, which is 5.4% of the adult population, a figure that remains consistent with earlier reports of 5.5%.

Despite a high level of participation in the legal gambling sector, with 91% of Dutch online gamblers using legal platforms, a new estimation method showed that 50% of gambling expenditure now goes to illegal providers. This is a significant shift from previous estimates that suggested 87% channelization to the legal market. The illegal gambling sector has seen its financial footprint expand since the second half of 2023, now roughly matching the size of the legal sector. While most players continue to use licensed operators, the volume of money flowing through illegal channels has increased, prompting authorities to remain vigilant.

The number of individuals treated for gambling addiction remained at 2,456 in 2023, as no updated figures were available at the time of reporting. Meanwhile, self-exclusion registrations through Cruks, the Dutch gambling exclusion registry, have been steadily increasing, reaching 87,345 by January 2025. Half of those registered are under 32 years old, and 16% are young adults aged 18 to 23. Authorities have also noted an increase in public engagement with gambling support services. Since the fourth quarter of 2024, consumers have been able to contact Loket Kansspel directly for questions regarding Cruks, leading to a notable rise in help-seeking conversations. Source: Monitoringsrapportage voorjaar 2025 toont positief effect beleidsregel verantwoord spelen, kansspelautoriteit.nl, April 14, 2025. By GamesAndCasino