Dutch gambling channelisation rises, but youth gambling concerns persist
New KSA data points to stronger migration into the regulated market alongside growing indicators of gambling-related risk.
Key takeaways:
- Licensed operators accounted for 59 per cent of estimated Dutch gambling gross gaming yield in 2025, up from 54 per cent in 2024.
- Active online gambling accounts exceeded 500,000 during the first half of 2026, with a monthly average of about 490,000.
- The KSA estimates average monthly losses per player increased to €137, up from €121 in the second half of 2025.
- Young adults aged 18 to 23 hold 22 per cent of legal gambling accounts despite representing only 9.2 per cent of the adult population.
- Gambling harm indicators continued to rise, with treatment cases increasing 14 per cent in 2025 and Cruks registrations reaching around 120,200 by July 2026.
The Netherlands.- The Dutch regulated online gambling market increased its share of total gambling revenue in 2025, but the country’s regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has warned that player losses, youth participation, and gambling-related harm indicators remain areas of concern. The regulator’s annual report and monitoring data for the first half of 2026 show that licensed operators captured around 59 per cent of estimated total gross gaming yield in the Netherlands in 2025, up from 54 per cent in 2024.
The improvement suggests a greater proportion of gambling activity is taking place within the regulated market. The regulator also reported continued growth in the number of active gambling accounts during the first half of 2026. At one point, the number of active accounts exceeded 500,000, while the monthly average stood at roughly 490,000.
However, the KSA noted that growth in account numbers was not matched by a comparable increase in the number of individual players. According to the regulator, this suggests consumers are increasingly using multiple gambling accounts, a trend that may be linked to regulatory measures such as the net deposit limits introduced in October 2024.
Average losses per active account remained relatively stable. Licensed operators reported average monthly losses of €75 per account during the first six months of 2026. Among players aged 18 to 23, the average fell to €34 per account. When adjusting for consumers who use multiple accounts and gamble intermittently, however, the KSA estimated that average monthly losses per person reached €137, up from €121 during the second half of 2025.
Young adults continued to represent a disproportionately large segment of the regulated market. Players aged 18 to 23 accounted for approximately 22 per cent of all legal gambling accounts despite making up only around 9.2 per cent of the adult population.
Earlier KSA research found that of 15,761 newly funded gambling accounts opened between May 1 and May 7, 2026, individuals aged 18 to 24 accounted for 33 per cent of new registrations. The regulator also found that 41 per cent of those accounts belonged to consumers who had only recently turned 18.
The data highlighted a strong correlation between account creation and consumers reaching the legal gambling age. Between 2024 and 2025, 11 per cent of accounts opened by 18-year-olds were registered on their eighteenth birthday, while 38 per cent were opened within a month of becoming legally eligible to gamble.
Alongside rising participation, demand for gambling harm support services also increased. In 2025, 3,108 people received specialised treatment for gambling problems, representing a 14 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
The national self-exclusion register, Cruks, recorded an average of 2,076 new registrations per month, reaching approximately 120,200 registered individuals by July 31, 2026. The regulator additionally reported a notable increase in involuntary registrations resulting from operator notifications.
The findings come amid an ongoing tightening of gambling advertising restrictions in the Netherlands. Advertising activity by licensed operators declined by roughly 33 per cent, from an average of 75,000 placements per month during the second half of 2025 to around 50,000 per month in the first half of 2026. In June, the Dutch government proposed a near-total ban on online gambling advertising.
Meanwhile, the industry body VNLOK has launched legal action against Meta, alleging that the social media platform had allowed widespread advertising from unlicensed gambling operators to reach Dutch consumers. VNLOK has claimed that more than 90 per cent of gambling advertisements appearing on Facebook originate from operators that do not hold a licence in the Netherlands.
What percentage of Dutch gambling revenue comes from the regulated market?
The KSA estimates licensed operators generated 59% of total gross gaming yield in the Netherlands during 2025, an increase from 54% in 2024.
Why is the KSA concerned about young adult gambling?
Players aged 18 to 23 account for around 22% of all regulated gambling accounts despite making up just 9.2% of the adult population. The regulator also found a significant number of new accounts are opened shortly after consumers turn 18.
How much do Dutch online gamblers lose on average?
Licensed operators reported average monthly losses of €75 per active account. After adjusting for multiple-account usage and intermittent play, the KSA estimates average losses per person reached €137 per month in the first half of 2026.
What is happening with the Cruks self-exclusion system?
Cruks recorded an average of 2,076 new registrations per month and reached approximately 120,200 registered individuals by the end of July 2026. The KSA also noted an increase in involuntary registrations prompted by operators.
How is gambling advertising changing in the Netherlands?
Advertising activity by licensed operators fell by around one-third in the first half of 2026. The Dutch government has also proposed a near-total ban on online gambling advertising, while industry body VNLOK is pursuing legal action against Meta over alleged promotion of unlicensed gambling operators.
