Gambling in the Netherlands – History & Legal Situation
In order to give you a full perspective of the issue, we’ll review it in detail and look at the topic from all aspects. We’ll discuss the history of gambling in the Netherlands, the current legal situation and will review the future predictions of how the industry is expected to develop, so get ready.
Furthermore, if you’re interested to know more on the topic, here is our expert guide on the best online casinos in the Netherlands where you can safely play your favourite games and take advantage of awesome bonuses.
History of Gambling in the Netherlands
As we already mentioned, just before October 1st 2021, online gambling in Holland was completely illegal. However, it is no secret that its citizens still participated in online casino sites using their VPNs. Consequently, the government realised that it was unable to really ban online gambling because people were doing it illegally anyway. Plus, considering the fact that its citizens were in no way protected against fraud or abuse, the discussions regarding opening the online gambling market began in 2019.
That way, on April 1st 2021, the Remote Gambling Act was enacted, allowing the gambling market to be launched in the next six months. Soon after, on October 1st 2021, remote gambling was officially legal in the Netherlands.
Current Situation
Currently, as the online gambling market is booming not only in the Netherlands but worldwide, it is important that the government takes measures to maintain control over the industry and prevent gambling addiction in the Netherlands.
The biggest question for all was what restrictions the lawmakers would impose on the market so that it still gives citizens as much space and freedom as possible but also provides the proper protection and law base necessary for their safety.
Well, just recently, it was officially announced that the Dutch government bans all broadcast ads and “untargeted” gambling ads starting from January 1st 2023, in order to mitigate gambling addiction in the Netherlands, especially amongst the younger audience. In addition, sponsorship deals between gambling platforms and sports clubs will no longer be permitted from the beginning of 2025.
That means that from January 1st 2023, operators will no longer be allowed to advertise on television, radio or in public spaces, both indoors and outdoors. Sponsorship of sports equipment and venues will also be banned from January 1st 2025. The ministry said that the Kansspelautoriteit will soon monitor compliance and will be ready to intervene in cases of violation of the newly implemented laws. Finally, the government concluded that direct and online marketing will still be permitted, but “the rules will be further tightened so that vulnerable groups are not confronted with the advertisements.”
Future Expectations
Last year, holland players made a profit of about €840 million, almost 60% more than what the predictions were. Everyone’s expectations are that the industry will continue to grow consistently in the future as well.
Furthermore, it will become more saturated as new local and foreign operators will be joining in. Casino and sports betting will continue to expand, bringing in even more revenue. Online gaming venues will continue improving their platforms and services, attracting new players.
Nevertheless, the Dutch online gambling industry isn’t just a lucrative market where everyone can simply come in and get a good piece of the pie. As already discussed, even though it still isn’t as saturated as in other countries like Britain, for instance, it certainly isn’t an easy market. Its future strongly depends on its legal framework and restrictions, designed to protect vulnerable players and fight gambling addiction in the Netherlands.
Irresponsible Gambling and Its Risks
We have dedicated the following paragraphs to the risks of gambling. We’ll discuss in detail the subject of gambling addiction in the Netherlands and review how the Dutch fight gambling addiction, so stay with us.
It’s a well-known fact that gambling can be addictive. The thing is that when we win, our brain releases dopamine – the ‘feel-good’ chemical. If we gamble often, our brain gets used to the dopamine, and then, in order to get the same level of pleasure, we have to gamble more and more.
We can’t stress enough the importance of responsible gambling and how harmful gambling can become if it gets out of control. It can seriously affect all aspects of our life, including our mental and physical health, as well as our finances and money.
Down below, we have listed the multiple risks and issues gamers deal with when suffering from gambling addiction in the Netherlands, but not only. It really is a global problem, and we all need to be aware of it and know how to deal with it. Stay tuned, as right after that, we’ll look at how to effectively fight gambling addiction in the Netherlands.
| Physical and Mental Health | Money and Finance |
|---|---|
| Experiencing Shame & Guilt | Getting In Debt |
| Lack of Self-Worth | Inability to Pay Bills |
| Loss of Trust in Family & Friends | Poor Work Performance |
| Suicidal Thoughts | Job Loss |
| Experiencing Anxiety & Depression | Legal Problems or Imprisonment |
| Changes In Your Sleep Pattern | Financial Stress |
| Mood Swings | Bankruptcy |
Last but not least, before we start with the matter of how the Dutch fight gambling addiction, here is our responsible gambling guide for Dutch players, where you can learn about the best responsible gambling practices and see how to employ some helpful, responsible gambling tools in the Netherlands.
How the Dutch Fight Gambling Addiction?
When it comes to gambling addiction in the Netherlands, and before we even discuss how the Dutch fight gambling addiction, it is important to remember that there’s no shame in that. It can happen to anybody, and the crucial thing is to seek help and support.
Of course, in order to seek assistance, there’s a need first to accept and identify the issue, so here are some key signs and symptoms to look out for, which can also mean you have a gambling disorder.
- Spending more than what you can afford to lose on gambling
- Spending too much time gambling
- Hiding your gambling from those around you or lying about it
- Having arguments with your family and friends related to gambling or money
- Losing interest in everything else
- Borrowing money, selling things, or not paying bills so you can gamble more
- Using gambling to get out of debt
- Neglecting your relationships and your social life
- Neglecting your work life
- Often or constantly thinking about gambling
- Inability to control your gambling or to stop
- Often feeling irritated, depressed, anxious
Once you have admitted and faced the issue, discussions about how to fight gambling addiction in the Netherlands can begin. We’re also going to discuss the measures taken by the responsible authorities and the available problem gambling treatment in the Netherlands for its citizens. Remember that the sooner you seek help, the less severe the consequences.
The country’s best asset, speaking of how the Dutch fight gambling addiction, is the free problem gambling treatment in the Netherlands that’s covered by health insurance, just like in the cases of substance dependence. However, the statistics show that only a small proportion of the citizens suffering from gambling addiction in the Netherlands seek help.
In the next paragraph, which will be the last in our article on how the Dutch fight gambling addiction, we have provided a list of the Problem Gambling Treatment institutions and organisations in the Netherlands where gamers experiencing gambling addiction can receive support and assistance.
Ultimately, before we go into that, don’t forget the government’s constant work towards a more safe and transparent online gambling environment – proof of which is the new advertising bans we just reviewed in detail further above.
Be aware of those issues and respect the market’s regulations as they’re there to protect the user. Because despite the potential revenue loss and even though some operators might choose to leave the market due to the strict regulations, the lawmakers’ biggest goal is to maintain a proper and safe online gambling industry.
Problem Gambling Treatment Centres and Organisations
Lastly, here is our listing of the organisations created with the goal of providing help for issues related to gambling addiction in the Netherlands. After all, these are the biggest and most significant weapons in the country’s fight against gambling addiction.
- The AGOG Foundation – The Dutch organisation helps individuals overcome their gambling addiction by providing counselling and therapy. The AGOG foundation hosts meetings and group events weekly.
- Loket Kansspel – The Loket Kansspel organisation specialises solely in gambling addiction issues. The Dutch institution offers free online testing for identifying gambling problems and anonymous sessions.
- Cruks – The Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen (CRUKS) is a gambling self-exclusion system, used to maintain a list of users. Cruks helps players who have decided to exclude themselves from gambling and stops them from accessing or participating in online gambling sites.
- Jellinek – Jellinek is an addiction treatment centre in the Netherlands that deals with all kinds of different addictions such as drug addiction, alcohol addiction, smoking addiction and, of course, gambling addiction.
- Tactus – Tactus is another institute that deals with different types of addictions through therapy, personalised treatment plans, meetings and group events. Online treatments are also available.
FAQ
Hopefully, our article was informative enough and not only successfully answered all your questions but also provided you with additional information on the subjects of gambling addiction in the Netherlands and how the Dutch fight gambling addiction. Still, you can refer to our FAQ section for summarised and clear info on the commonly asked questions related to the topic.