Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has warned Dutch licensed operators that the Netherlands’ regulated online gambling market is under pressure from stalled growth, illegal competition and continued concerns over player protection.
In a speech delivered at the Gaming in Holland conference, KSA Head of Licences and Supervision Directorate, Ella Seijsener, said the regulator’s latest monitoring work showed operator numbers, gross gambling revenue, player numbers and channelisation had remained broadly flat compared with six months earlier.
The regulator contrasted that with H2 Gambling Capital data showing EU licensed online gambling growth of 11% in 2025.
The warning comes as the Dutch market faces a higher gambling tax rate, which rose to 37.8% from January 2026 after an earlier increase to 34.2% in 2025. Industry concerns have centred on whether higher tax and tighter rules are reducing the licensed base while strengthening offshore alternatives.
Seijsener said channelisation by gross game result had fallen to 53%, while illegal operators continued to use social media and search visibility to reach Dutch consumers.
KSA said in May it had reported more than 4,600 illegal gambling adverts to Meta during April, while it has also taken action against unlicensed operators including Polymarket.
The regulator said enforcement alone was not enough, given that penalties against illegal operators are often difficult to collect. It is instead working with hosting providers, banks, payment service providers and marketing firms to disrupt offshore gambling infrastructure.
Seijsener also warned licensed operators against treating regulatory gaps as commercial opportunities. KSA has already written to sports betting licensees ahead of the 2026 World Cup, reminding them of rules on advertising and prohibited betting offers.
KSA said: “We still see young people managing to lose hefty sums or play for long periods without any intervention taking place.”
The regulator’s focus on illegal gambling and digital enforcement follows Global Gaming Insider’s report on the appointment of Wiebe Ruttenberg to the KSA Board of Directors, with responsibility for digital transformation and stronger links with the financial sector.
KSA has also launched a World Cup campaign warning young adults about the risks of sports betting
