Illegal market concerns raised as Dutch land-based gambling recovers

The Dutch gambling regulator says the land-based market is “almost back” to pre-pandemic levels in its latest report, from which fresh concerns about the illegal online market were raised.

The total gross gaming revenue in the Netherlands in 2023 was €4bn, growing 21.2 per cent year-on-year from €3.3bn in 2022.

Land-based casino games and table games (33 per cent) and lotteries (30 per cent) are the biggest sectors in the market while sports betting’s nine per cent share – seven per cent of which is online – makes it the smallest sector.

The regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), also revealed that online GGR in the first half of 2024 rose eight per cent year-on-year to €752m. Online casino games accounted for 72 per cent of revenue.

However, fresh concerns about the presence of the illegal online market were raised. The KSA estimated that the channelisation rate to the illegal market in the first half of 2024 was 95 per cent, up from 90 per cent across 2023.

However, the KSA also estimated that 87 per cent of GGR will go to legal providers in 2024, down from 88 per cent in 2023, with the other 13 per cent going to illegal operators.

“It is encouraging that many people who want to play are able to find a legal provider,” said Helma Lodders, chair of Dutch gambling trade association VNLOK, and Eric Konings, acting director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association in a joint statement.

“At the same time, it is worrying that players who opt for the illegal offer spend more money there. This raises the question of whether we are succeeding sufficiently in protecting the most vulnerable groups of players, such as minors, young adults or problem gamblers.

“We know that the appeal of illegal gambling sites is particularly great for these groups. And recent research showed that minors can play at illegal providers without many problems.

“These groups are now in danger of disappearing from statistics, while they deserve extra protection.”

KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen added that the latest figures keep the Netherlands “attractive to illegal parties,” which he labelled “an undesirable situation.”

“The stricter we regulate, the greater that difference can become,” he said. “Moreover, I fear that players at illegal parties will get into trouble more quickly, and therefore suffer greater losses because illegals do not have to worry about the duty of care.

“That cannot be the intention of stricter regulation of the gambling market (or an increase in gambling tax).”