The Hague, Netherlands, November 5, 2026. The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has launched two nationwide campaigns to prevent gambling among minors and young adults, while the licensed operators’ association VNLOK continues its lawsuit against Meta over illegal casino advertising on Facebook and Instagram.
Dutch gambling tax backfires and Meta faces lawsuit over illegal betting ads
The KSA, chaired by Michel Groothuizen, announced the OpenOverGokken and Gokstop initiatives on November 2. The first encourages parents of young people aged 16 to 25 to discuss the risks associated with gambling, video games, and digital advertising. The second promotes self-exclusion through Cruks, a national register that allows individuals to block access to licensed gambling operators for a minimum of six months.
Björn Fuchs
The strategy follows research published on August 20; 41% of new accounts opened by players aged 18 to 24 belonged to 18-year-olds, while 28% of underage vocational education students reported gambling during the previous year.
Meanwhile, Björn Fuchs, chairman of VNLOK, filed a lawsuit against Meta on September 28 before an Amsterdam court, citing obligations under the European Digital Services Act. According to industry research, more than 90% of gambling advertisements examined on Facebook promoted unlicensed operators. Meta removed just 11% in May and 15% in June of the illegal advertisements identified.
Roos Lawant
The regulatory report published on October 29 recorded 1.48 million active online gambling accounts during the first half of 2026, compared with 1.38 million previously, and approximately 820,000 players. Although 94% gamble exclusively with licensed operators, these operators capture only 59% of estimated online GGR, up from 54%. Total Dutch gambling GGR declined from €4.5 billion in 2024 to €4.1 billion in 2025, while online casino revenue fell 18.2%.
The KSA, operating under the Ministry of Justice and Security, has Roos Lawant overseeing Player Protection, Ella Seijsener heading Licensing and Supervision, and Daniël Palomo van Es leading Digitalization. Groothuizen is pursuing cooperation with Google to filter illegal gambling advertising, while further advertising restrictions and sanctions against digital platforms remain under discussion.
