Key takeaway:
- Dutch KSA removed 20 illegal gambling apps
- The illegal apps presented themselves as reputable brands but with links from illegal operators
- Dutch players are urged to report illegal apps via the Meld Vals Spel reporting platform
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the official Dutch gambling regulator, has intensified its campaign against illegal gambling applications by removing 20 apps from app stores.
In a legal effort that the KSA launched at the beginning of 2025, the Dutch authority has decided to remove 20 apps from the Google Store and the App Store for breaching the gambling laws of the Netherlands in a series of illegal activities.
According to the KSA, these apps are often presented as unsuspicious games and are seldom advertised on social media platforms with the sole purpose of redirecting Dutch players to illegal online gambling websites.
The Dutch authority revealed one of the most frequently used tactics by these illegal apps, where they tend to promote game variations of the popular casino game “Plinko”, which, once downloaded, redirects users to illegal online casinos.
In addition, many of these websites falsely advertise legitimate operators to attract players. One recent example of this malpractice is the false display of Holland Casino, where one illegal gambling app used the operator’s logo to get players to click on the link, only to redirect them to a black market casino.
What is even more concerning is that many of these illegal apps are also easily accessible to minors, which in turn raises a new set of concerns regarding the exposure of the youth to not only gambling content but also illegal gambling operators that fail to comply with standard responsible gambling practices.
The Kansspelautoriteit urges Dutch players to immediately report any suspicious apps by looking at the name of the app used on the promotional links, further stating that one of the most effective ways to combat these dangerous apps is if the users themselves take action.
For this purpose, the KSA informs consumers that they can submit an official report via one of the complaint channels of the regulators, including the platform specifically created to report illegal gambling content in the Netherlands, Meld Vals Spel.
