According to data from the Netherlands national addiction database, approximately 17% of players seeking help for gambling problems are under the age of 25. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

National addiction database provides statistics

The number of people seeking help for gambling addiction in the Netherlands surged by 15.3% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to data from national addiction database LADIS (Landelijk Alcohol en Drugs Informatie Systeem). Perhaps more troubling, the LADIS data indicates that approximately 17% of players seeking help are those under the age of 25.

Though new measures might help the emerging problem, Teun Struycken, recently appointed as Junior Minister of Legal Protections, responded to questions from Michiel van Nispen, leader of the Christian Union party Mirjam Bikker, by reviewing what measures are already in place to protect players under 25.

These measures include

• deposit limits for players aged 18 to 24 (to commence in October)
• a ban on influencer marketing
• a wider ban on gambling ads on TV, radio and public billboards

Strict ad regulations

Despite these measures, changes in advertising rules instituted in July 2023 permit targeted ads via the internet, direct mail, on-demand TV, social media, and gambling sites. If Struycken is to be believed, those advertisements are not a cause for concern, as regulations already require operators to ensure as little as 5% of those ads reach players under 25.

addiction research facility in Utrecht…plans to provide a specialist gambling addiction center

Struycken also pointed to the Trimbo addiction research facility in Utrecht, which plans to provide a specialist gambling addiction center to treat players, as well as to provide addiction prevention measures.

Struycken said: “This commitment remains as important to me as ever. In future changes to legislation and regulations, for example following the evaluation of the Remote Gambling Act, I will pay particular attention to the protection of particularly vulnerable groups such as minors and young adults.”

Full online gambling advertising ban unlikely

As reported by iGB, while many parliament members have shown full support for a full ban on online gambling advertising, Struycken avoided questions on whether he supports such a ban, instead saying he will update the chamber during the next session of parliament on whether there has been any progress “in passing a motion for a full ban.”

the regulator had no intention of supporting a total ban on gambling ads

Should the minister be cornered into answering those questions, the KSA chairman Michael Groothuizen’s responses may foreshadow what Struycken will say. In July of 2024, Groothuizen told iGB Live that the regulator had no intention of supporting a total ban on gambling ads.

Groothuizen said: “Gambling operators must be able to present themselves to players. Although we are now dealing with new ministers, our message has not changed at all.”

Holland Casino mistepping

But results from an investigation by De Groene Amsterdammer found that “hundreds of advertisements on Instagram and Facebook…are explicitly aimed at young adults, with the government-owned company Holland Casino making the most mistakes.” Players under 25 thus remain at high risk of being exploited.

some ads had been incorrectly targeted [to youngsters] due to human error”

Further dodging questions—and perhaps responsibility—Struycken referred again to measures already in place to prevent gambling addiction, saying Holland Casino has a responsibility to protect its players. A fair point, to be sure, when an internal investigation “found some ads had been incorrectly targeted [to youngsters] due to human error.”

Struycken said: “Holland Casino regrets what happened. At the request of the state secretary for taxation and the tax authorities, the CEO of Holland Casino has provided further explanation about this incident and about the measures she has taken to prevent such incidents in the future.”