Netherlands Implements €300 Deposit Limit for Young Gamblers

The Netherlands’ regulatory body, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has introduced new amendments to the Responsible Gaming Policy Rule, imposing a €300 (£255/$325) deposit limit for players aged 18-24 and a €700 limit for those aged over 24.

Announced on June 3, KSA regards these new limits as a “major step” towards creating a safer gambling environment for younger players.

The new rules take effect immediately, though specific policies, such as deposit limits, will be enforced starting October 1. This delay allows time for necessary IT adjustments and for operators to hire new employees to manage the changes.

New Financial Checks and Monitoring

From October 1, operators will be required to perform financial checks for young adults—those aged 18 to 24—when they deposit €300 or more. Similarly, individuals aged over 24 will undergo financial checks when their deposits reach €700. Should a player be unable to afford the deposit, the operator must block any further deposits for that month.

Exceptions to the €300 deposit limit can be made in special circumstances, such as for professional poker players needing to deposit higher amounts for tournaments.

In addition to financial checks, the amended policy emphasizes stricter “real-time” monitoring of player behavior. Both land-based and online operators must intervene within an hour of detecting potentially harmful gambling behavior. This continuous monitoring is to be active 24 hours a day.

Indicators of harmful gambling behavior include:

• Gambling for extended hours, particularly at night
• Continuous betting
• Repeated deposits

The KSA considers gambling for more than six hours per day as a sign of potential gambling harm.

“With this policy rule, the Gaming Authority aims to further flesh out the laws and regulations that apply to the recruitment and advertising activities of license holders and to the addiction prevention policy and its implementation by license holders, where applicable,” stated the publication in the Official Gazette.

Reasons Behind the Amended Rules

In September 2023, KSA conducted a study on how ten operators executed their duty of care. The study revealed that operators were often delayed in intervening with at-risk players. This research, along with recent amendments to gambling advertising rules and a role model ban, prompted KSA to draft amendments to its Responsible Gaming Policy Rule.

The draft amendments underwent a consultation round, receiving 33 responses from operators, trade bodies, and addiction experts. The feedback predominantly focused on addiction prevention.

Efforts to Regulate the Gambling Market

These amendments are part of broader efforts to tighten the Netherlands’ gambling market regulations. In May, a coalition agreement among four Dutch political parties proposed raising the gambling tax from 30.5% to 37.8%. 

In April, the Dutch House of Representatives voted to ban “high-risk” online gambling, including slots, and online gambling advertising.

Further, research by Keurmerk Responsible Affiliates (KVA) indicated that illegal operators were accepting bets from minors. Peter-Paul de Goeij, director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association, anticipated a “rigorous” response from KSA in light of these findings.

KSA has also issued fines recently, targeting unlicensed operators. For instance, Sarah Eternal was fined €280,000 weekly for operating without a license, while Casbit received a warning for a similar violation.

Source:

“Gaming Authority publishes amended Responsible Gaming Policy Rule”. kansspelautoriteit.nl. June 3, 2024.