The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has announced a new initiative aimed at strengthening early detection and prevention of gambling-related harm nationwide.
Nearly €2m ($2.3m) in funding has been granted to establish the Early Detection of Gambling Harm Partnership (SVSG), a multi-agency collaboration designed to identify problematic play earlier and improve access to support services.
The partnership brings together several national organisations, including the Trimbos Institute, the Dutch Association of Addiction Specialists, Municipal Health Service and the Dutch Debt Assistance Route.
These groups will coordinate with addiction treatment providers, municipalities and peer-support networks, forming what the KSA describes as a more "effective and well-organised" prevention system.
Funding for the SVSG comes from the Addiction Prevention Fund, financed through levies on licensed gambling operators.
According to the KSA, an estimated 209,000 people in the Netherlands are at high risk of gambling addiction, yet only a small proportion seek treatment - largely due to stigma, lack of awareness or uncertainty about where to access help.
From early 2026, the SVSG will begin pilot programmes across five municipalities. Local teams will work together to detect early warning signs, improve referral pathways and expand professional training.
Existing prevention materials will also be reviewed and supplemented where necessary, and an online platform will be introduced to support national knowledge-sharing.
Scaling to at least 15 municipalities is planned from 2027 onward.
Commenting on the development, KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen stated: "Many organisations have been working hard for years to reduce gambling harm, but often in isolation.
"With this partnership, we permanently bring together knowledge, healthcare, debt counselling and local partners. This makes it easier to find help, and players can get the support they need more quickly. This is an important step towards better consumer protection.
The initiative follows a period of heightened regulatory activity in the Dutch gambling sector, including recent enforcement actions related to advertising, customer due diligence and betting integrity.
The Netherlands' "Early Detection of Alcohol Problems" partnership, launched in 2019, is considered a successful model for this new gambling-focused initiative
