KSA Remains Confident in the Market’s Player Protection Capabilities

(AsiaGameHub) –   A probe into how easily minors in the Netherlands can access gambling services has resulted in increased collaboration between licensed operators and the country’s regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).

The regulator was prompted to launch the investigation in 2025 after receiving multiple reports of minors successfully creating accounts with legal online gambling providers.

A small set of findings— which the KSA noted do not represent the overall state of the Dutch market— revealed that minors were bypassing strict ID checks during registration by using another person’s bank account, such as that of a parent or a legally aged friend.

When the KSA approached online gambling providers to discuss the issue, it received feedback that there was no immediate solution available to address it.

However, the regulator has now announced that such a solution “is now available” and will be highlighted during an upcoming technical session with the licensed sector, though the date of this session has not yet been disclosed.

Overall, no serious violations were recorded, with the KSA concluding that it is “virtually impossible” for minors to gamble with licensed operators, and that this activity primarily occurs on black market gambling platforms.

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the KSA, commented: “The KSA is deeply concerned about underage gambling. Fortunately, it turns out this rarely happens with license holders, but we do have clear signs that it still occurs.”

“That activity takes place on the illegal market. Illegal providers often have no or low age verification standards and target this young demographic with advertising— for example, via TikTok.

“This is extremely harmful, so the KSA is committed to combating illegal supply. We are also placing a stronger focus on educating minors to make them aware of the risks of gambling.”

Legal action against offshore operators has been ramping up recently in the Netherlands. Novatech and Fortaprime SRL were the latest to face penalties from the KSA, with fines of €24.9m and €1.8m respectively.

It appears the licensed market has had enough of Novatech in particular, as Nederlandse Loterij— the largest legal gambling operator in the domestic market— has initiated its own legal action against the offshore competitor, at a time when channelisation rates are constantly threatened by the growing prominence of illegal gambling.

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