Dutch Gambling Market Hits a Turning Point Amid Illegal Growth
#BettingLegislation #Netherlands #GamingInEurope
The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) has released its comprehensive autumn 2025 monitoring report, revealing a complex and concerning turnaround in the nation’s legal online gambling sector. While the number of active players continues to rise, the overall growth of the regulated market is stagnating. The Ksa attributes this shift to the positive impact of new player protection measures, but notes a critical drawback: a corresponding rise in the market share captured by illegal operators.
The Gross Gaming Result (GSR) for the legal market in the first half of 2025 stood at €600 million, a notable 16% decrease from the €697 million recorded just six months prior. This deceleration is largely credited to the implementation of new rules designed to safeguard consumers, including mandatory, clear deposit limits.
Players Increase, Losses Decrease
Despite the drop in revenue, the total number of gambling accounts played on a monthly basis rose to 1.29 million in the first half of 2025. This trend—more accounts, less revenue—is likely a side effect of the new restrictions, potentially prompting some users to create multiple accounts to bypass lower monthly deposit limits. The Ksa estimates the number of unique, active online casino players in the Netherlands reached 839,000, representing 5.7% of the adult population. Crucially, the average monthly loss per player has decreased substantially, falling from €146 at the end of 2024 to just €119 by early 2025, demonstrating the success of the protective measures. The report also noted that young adults (ages 18 to 24) account for a disproportionately high 23% of all active accounts.
The Illegal Market Threat
The Ksa's primary concern centers on the unintended consequences for the non-regulated sector. The BSR (total money gambled) share going to illegal providers has risen slightly, reaching 49% by early 2025. The report suggests this shift may be directly linked to the new regulations. Players who perceive the legal market’s protective rules as restrictive may be migrating to unregulated offerings where such limits do not apply. The Ksa describes this development as "worrying," noting that players in the illegal sphere lack essential protections. These contrasting trends highlight the complexity of regulating gambling in the Netherlands growing as an industry. The Ksa emphasizes continual monitoring is necessary to combat the growth of the illicit market and ensure player safety remains paramount.
