DUTCH GOVERNMENT PROPOSES MAJOR ONLINE GAMBLING REFORMS WITH ADVERTISING BAN, DEPOSIT LIMITS AND AFFORDABILITY CHECKS
The Dutch government has unveiled plans for a broad overhaul of the country’s regulated online gambling market, including a ban on gambling advertising and bonuses, centralised deposit limits and enhanced affordability checks.
Justice and Security State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen announced the proposals on 12 June, describing them as part of a wider effort to strengthen player protection and tackle gambling-related harm. The measures will require legislation before they can take effect.
The reforms would mark one of the most significant changes to the Dutch online gambling framework since the regulated market launched on 1 October 2021.
Under the proposals, licensed operators would no longer be permitted to advertise online gambling products or offer customer inducements, including free bets linked to account registration.
The Netherlands has already introduced a series of advertising restrictions in recent years, including a ban on the use of role models in gambling marketing and a prohibition on untargeted advertising for remote gambling that came into force in July 2023.
However, government officials concluded that existing measures have not sufficiently reduced public exposure to gambling advertising, particularly among younger adults.
Alongside the proposed advertising and bonus restrictions, the government plans to introduce an overarching deposit limit covering all licensed online gambling platforms. Players wishing to exceed the limit would be required to undergo an affordability assessment.
According to the government, these assessments could include reviews of payment arrears, personal financial circumstances and whether an individual is subject to guardianship or financial administration. The objective is to prevent consumers from incurring gambling losses they cannot afford.
The proposals also include amendments to Cruks, the Netherlands’ national gambling self-exclusion register.
Voluntary exclusions could become open-ended rather than expiring automatically after a fixed period. In addition, relatives and financial administrators would be given a simpler process for requesting another person’s registration, while links between Cruks and treatment services would be strengthened.
On the enforcement front, the government is seeking broader powers to combat illegal gambling operators. Proposed measures include the ability to block unlicensed gambling websites and impose new statutory obligations on payment providers, hosting companies and other service providers that support unauthorised operators.
Van Bruggen said the reforms will be developed through a legislative proposal alongside a longer-term programme aimed at reducing gambling harm. The government is also examining whether limits should be placed on the number of licences available within the Dutch market.
The Dutch proposals form part of a wider trend across Europe towards stricter online gambling regulation.
In Great Britain, maximum online slot stakes were introduced last year, with limits set at £5 for players aged 25 and over and £2 for younger adults. Additional measures taking effect from January 2026 include restrictions on mixed-product promotions and a cap on bonus wagering requirements.
Belgium increased its minimum gambling age to 21 in September 2024, while Italy continues to enforce its wide-ranging gambling advertising ban introduced under the 2018 Dignity Decree.
Meanwhile, Ireland has begun implementing key provisions of its Gambling Regulation Act 2024, including player protection measures, spending controls and enhanced powers against unlicensed operators, with licensing of remote operators due to commence from July.
If adopted, the Dutch reforms would further align the Netherlands with a growing number of European jurisdictions introducing tighter controls on advertising, player spending and operator compliance.
