The Netherlands’ gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has indicated that recently implemented player deposit limits may be unintentionally bolstering the unregulated market, despite successfully curbing average player losses.
An initial assessment reveals that since the rules were introduced in October 2024, gross gaming revenue for legally licensed operators has declined by eight percent.
While the regulator notes that the overall channelization rate to the legal market remains high at 93 percent, there is a growing concern over a potential player migration. The KSA highlighted that internet search volume for the top 100 illegal gambling operators has seen a noticeable increase.
This suggests that while the measures are effective for a majority, some high-spending players may be seeking platforms without such restrictions.
On a positive note, the regulations have had a clear impact on responsible gambling metrics. The average loss per player account has fallen by 31 percent, decreasing from a monthly average of €116 to €80 in the eight months following the implementation.
Furthermore, the proportion of players sustaining losses greater than €1,000 per month has dropped significantly, from four percent to just one percent.
The percentage of players exceeding these deposit thresholds has dropped further – from 9.7 per cent to 2.2 per cent,” the KSA said. In the previous measurement, it was 3.8 per cent. Among young adults, the percentage dropped from 12 per cent to 1.9 per cent (previously 2.8 per cent).
The current framework requires operators to perform affordability checks and intervene when players reach specific thresholds.
For young adults aged 18-24, operators must make contact if net deposits exceed €300 in a month. For players aged 25 and over, this mandatory contact is triggered at the €700 deposit level.
The KSA is preparing to publish a more comprehensive report later this month on deposit limits, which will provide deeper insights into monetary channelization and the effects of the recent increase in the national gambling tax rate to 37.8 percent.
