Dutch Politics Reignites the Fire of Gambling Reform

After months of political turbulence and upheaval, Dutch lawmakers are once again pressing ahead with stalled gambling reforms. The political crisis in the country earlier this year may have slowed momentum, but snap elections on October 29th will breathe new life into the process.  

Arno Rutte, the State Secretary for Justice and Security, has taken over the mantle from Teun Struycken, who withdrew after geopolitical tension among politicians effectively halted progress on the Kansspelen Op Afstand (KOA) Act - the nation’s key gambling legislation. 

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 Dutch Gambling Reform Reinvigorated

The Dutch gambling sector has been in somewhat of a freefall since Struycken, the Secretary for Legal Protection, whose reforms to the Netherlands’ online gambling framework under the KOA Act were frozen due to conflicting views among top Dutch politicians, resulted in a walkout.  

Since taking over from Struycken, Rutte has presented a slew of evidence-based studies to the Dutch Parliament, aiming to reignite and refine the regulatory framework. 

This has been done with some urgency, as data indicates a surge in online gambling since 2021, with an increase in risky betting behaviour among young adults. 

 Problem Areas Researched

Rutte has highlighted potential policy options regarding slot machines following a detailed analysis by Atlas Research. Although not entirely online-focused, the findings concluded that regulations around land-based slot machines can be further developed if gambling harm is to be effectively dealt with. 

Atlas concluded that policy design regarding land-based gambling required a balancing act between player protection, measures countering gambling-related crime, and securing profitability for operators to justify continued investment in the market segment. 

The issue of problem gambling was visited in some detail by the Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC). It concluded that gambling problems can occur due to limited knowledge of the risks of gambling, that people from all walks of life are impacted, and that support is often delayed. 

 KSA Revisits the Gambling Tax Issue

Recent research into this year's increased gambling tax by the Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) did not escape Rutte’s attention. This showed that the increase appears to have missed the intended goal of raising €100 million in tax revenue. 

After the tax rate was increased from 30.5% in 2024 to 34.2% in January of this year, a further hike to 37.8% is on the cards for 2026. 

Stricter player protection rules have also caused the estimated revenue for 2025 to be revised to around €40 million, which is 5% lower year-on-year than the previous year. 

 High Expectations for Reform 

Rutte has high expectations that the evidence put forward to the Kamer will further the revision of the KOA (Remote Gambling Act), which Struycken referred to in February, saying:

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“The most important principle in the new vision is the protection of all citizens against the risks of negative effects of gambling, such as addiction or debt.” 

Before stepping down, Struycken had been contemplating several measures that are sure to be revisited under Rutte, including the following:

1. Stricter deposit and affordability checks.
2. A ban on digital ads targeting young audiences.
3. Mandatory warnings on gambling products highlighting risks.
4. Age restrictions for online slots and high-risk casino games.

These plans mirror regulatory developments across Europe, where stricter controls have become a growing trend. The Netherlands is expected to follow suit once the political situation has returned to a state of normalcy in the country.