Dutch Gaming Regulations Cut Player Losses in Latest Assessment
The Netherlands Gaming Authority (KSA) has confirmed that protective measures introduced in late 2024 continue to effectively reduce excessive gambling behavior among online players. The second evaluation shows average monthly losses per player account dropped from €116 to €80 following implementation of mandatory contact requirements and deposit limits, representing a 31% decrease across the regulated market.
Deposit Limits Drive Behavioral Changes
The mandatory contact requirement before setting high deposit limits has proven particularly effective in curbing excessive spending. Players must now contact operators before establishing monthly deposit limits exceeding €150 for young adults or €350 for older players, allowing operators to highlight associated risks. This intervention reduced the proportion of players setting high deposit limits to under 50%.
Net deposit controls have shown equally strong results. When players attempt to deposit more than €300 (ages 18-24) or €700 (24+) monthly, operators must verify affordability or block further deposits for the remainder of the month. The percentage of players exceeding these thresholds fell from 9.7% to 2.2%, with young adults seeing the steepest decline from 12% to 1.9%.
Market Stability Maintained Despite Restrictions
Player channeling to licensed operators remains stable at 93%, indicating the protective measures have not driven significant migration to illegal platforms. The average number of accounts per player (2.4) has remained virtually unchanged, suggesting players are not circumventing limits by spreading activity across multiple operators.
However, search volume for the top 100 illegal gambling websites has increased, potentially indicating growth in the unlicensed market. The KSA expects to publish money-based channeling data in July alongside its assessment of gambling tax increases, providing clearer insight into whether high-stakes players are moving to illegal operators.