Dutch gambling surges as illegal operators outpace legal market growth
Gambling in the Netherlands is growing, but the legal market is struggling to keep up. New figures from the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) show more players are signing up, yet illegal operators are taking a bigger share of the money. The latest monitoring report highlights shifts in player behaviour and market trends since new protection rules were introduced. The KSA's Fall 2025 report reveals a rise in active gambling accounts. Monthly users climbed from 1.18 million in the second half of 2024 to 1.29 million in the first half of 2025. Around 839,000 unique players—5.7% of Dutch adults—gambled legally during this period.
Despite stricter rules, including deposit limits, players lost less on average. Monthly losses dropped from €146 to €119 in early 2025. However, licensed operators saw their revenue fall. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) for legal providers reached €600 million in H1 2025, down from €697 million in the previous six months. The unregulated market is expanding faster than the legal one. While 94% of Dutch gamblers use licensed companies, only 49% of all gambling money flows through them. This gap suggests illegal operators are gaining ground as regulated growth slows.
The KSA's findings confirm two clear trends: more people are gambling, but legal operators are losing revenue share. Tighter player protections may have reduced individual losses, yet the black market continues to thrive. The report underscores the challenge of balancing regulation with market stability in the Dutch gaming sector.
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