New policy aims to “structurally reduce damage caused by gambling”
The Netherlands’ Secretary of State for Justice and Security has confirmed plans to impose stricter restrictions on the country’s online gambling operators.
The proposed changes are in line with the gambling policy adopted by the new coalition government in the Netherlands in February.
They include a total ban on online gambling advertising, a prohibition on bonuses, overarching deposit limits, and affordability checks.
The government has committed to achieving its new policy by 2030 and is working to determine the level of the deposit limit and the means of assessing affordability.
The five-year plan also addresses the supply of illegal gambling and proposes improvements to the Cruks self-exclusion system.
Over the next five years, the Netherlands government aims to:
- Increase risk awareness through campaigns and media literacy, especially among young people and parents
- Protect against high-risk games and use of AI in the online environment
- Impose stricter controls on minors and illegal providers
- Introduce deposit limits and advertising bans for online gambling
- Improve early detection of problem gambling and strengthened help and support services
One of the original policy commitments of the coalition government – raising the minimum age to play online casino games to 21 – has been dropped.
Last week the Dutch Lottery warned that raising the iGaming age to 21 would drive young players to the illegal market, exposing them to even greater risk.