Dutch Gaming Authority Invests in Programs to Combat Gambling-Related Issues
The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has announced the allocation of funding to five new initiatives aimed at preventing gambling-related harm. This decision follows the conclusion of an investigation into minors’ access to legal online gambling platforms in the Netherlands.
The projects, managed by organizations such as the Anonymous Gamblers Foundation and the Gamblers’ Environment Foundation (AGOG), the Dutch Association for Psychiatry (NVvP), the Trimbos Institute, and the Naast Foundation, are financed through the KSA’s Addiction Prevention Fund (Verslavingspreventiefonds, VPF). Established in 2021, this fund is supported by an additional levy on providers offering high-risk gambling products.
The KSA emphasized that Dutch research indicates roughly 20% of gamblers fall into moderate or high-risk categories for addiction. The current investments target four primary areas: expanding peer support networks, developing clinical guidance on addiction, integrating prevention into existing social and health programs, and providing support for workplaces and families affected by gambling issues.
Among the funded projects, AGOG will focus on training facilitators and piloting digital peer-support meetings to broaden access, especially for those in remote areas or unable to attend in person. The NVvP is working on creating clinical guidelines to inform psychiatric practice concerning gambling and gaming addiction. The Trimbos Institute is piloting initiatives within youth programs and exploring how employers can identify early warning signs among employees. Lastly, Stichting Naast plans to offer webinars, counseling, and newsletters for families, enhancing their ability to seek help.
This strategic investment aligns with similar European efforts, such as the UK’s recent commitment of £25.4 million to gambling harm prevention. The KSA’s funding and actions are part of a broader, international effort to address gambling-related risks, particularly among vulnerable groups such as minors.
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In connection with these initiatives, the KSA published the results of its investigation into minors’ access to online gambling platforms. It concluded that, under current verification systems, it is “virtually impossible” for under-18s to register and gamble with licensed operators. Nonetheless, the report highlighted some technical loopholes and identified illegal operators as the greatest threat to minors. The chairman of the Dutch Gaming Authority expressed concern: “The KSA is deeply concerned about minors gambling. Fortunately, it appears that this hardly ever occurs among licensed providers, but we do have clear indications that it is happening nonetheless.” The authority is focusing on combating illegal providers and educating minors about gambling risks. Similar efforts are underway across Europe, with Norway recently unveiling a four-year plan targeting youth gambling. KSA Gambling-Related Harm
