KSA chairman warns against raising legal gambling age
In a recent call to action, Michael Groothuizen, the chairman of the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), implored Teun Struycken, the state secretary for legal protection, to reconsider the proposal to raise the online gambling age to 21. Groothuizen cautioned that such a move might inadvertently drive younger players toward unregulated black market platforms, which lack the necessary safeguards.
On February 18, Groothuizen shared his thoughts via a blog post, responding to Struycken’s latest correspondence to parliament outlining his reformative plans for the gambling sector.
In his blog, Groothuizen asserted that it would be overly simplistic to believe that raising the gambling age would effectively deter minors from engaging in online gambling activities.
“We are already observing instances of underage gambling. Furthermore, for individuals under 21, access to illegal gambling platforms remains just a few clicks away, while they would be barred from participating in legally regulated events that adhere to stringent responsibility standards,” Groothuizen explained.
Government Initiatives for Enhanced Player Protection
Struycken’s initiatives stem from a comprehensive government review of the 2021 Remote Gambling Act, completed last year. The findings, released in November, highlighted that existing responsible gambling measures are proving insufficient.
In his parliamentary letter dated February 14, Struycken proposed a series of measures aimed at bolstering enforcement for player protection. These initiatives include raising the legal gambling age to 21 and empowering the KSA to intensify efforts against illegal market activities.
Groothuizen acknowledged Struycken’s commitment to enhancing the KSA’s capabilities in blocking illegal websites, as well as addressing the issue of unregulated online gambling at a European level.
“I am encouraged by the state secretary’s serious approach towards us as a regulatory authority. His plans may soon grant us greater capacity to take illegal websites offline, which is essential for player protection,” Groothuizen stated.
“Typically, amending legislation is a lengthy process; however, with adequate political will and public urgency, it could be expedited,” he added.
KSA’s Collaboration with Financial Institutions to Combat Illegal Transactions
The KSA is actively engaging in initiatives aimed at curbing the influence of the black market, Groothuizen noted, with a focus on undermining the illegal revenue models that perpetuate underground gambling.
This strategy includes close collaboration with local banks and payment processors to prevent them from facilitating transactions linked to illegal websites.
Commenting on Struycken’s proposal for industry-wide deposit limits, Groothuizen described this as a commendable step toward minimizing gambling-related harm.
Challenges of Implementing Industry-Wide Deposit Limits
However, he raised concerns about the administrative hurdles that could arise from enforcing uniform deposit limits across the industry, particularly for various service providers.
Player net deposit limits were introduced in October 2024, but implementation has occurred individually among licensed operators. Consequently, if a player reaches their limit on one platform, they can easily continue gambling on others without restrictions.
Data released by the KSA in February indicated significant positive trends following the introduction of these deposit limits. The average losses per player account dropped from €117 to €83, while the gross gaming revenue (GGR) for legal operators decreased by 10% as a direct result of these constraints.
“Our current player limits, which are set at €300 and €700 per month, appear to be effective, as they help the vast majority of players stay within safer gambling guidelines, but do not yet affect player channeling,” Groothuizen concluded.
