The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has made further commitments to increasing player safety in 2026.
Following a turbulent year for the Dutch gambling sector and politics overall, the gambling authority is ending January on a high note with its supervisory agenda for the next 12 months.
A total of five main pressing issues were outlined in the document, which KSA Chair Michel Groothuizen and his team will aim to address fully as the year rolls by.
These include black market operators, vulnerable groups protection, duty of care standards, advertising, and AML policies.
Offshore actors: public enemy number one
In the new year, the KSA has expressed willingness to tighten the coordination of all parties involved in the Dutch licensed gambling industry for a wide-scale counterattack against the growing shadow of the black market.
Such efforts will continue to build on a successful 2025 for the KSA, which managed to blacklist a large number of affiliates using the .nl domain through a partnership with the Foundation for Internet Domain Registration. Deepened communication between the regulator and social media companies to remove illegal content is also expected to expand.
One particularly interesting development to look forward to this year is KSA’s investigative work on tracking down slot machines that have come from bankrupt or closed down land-based venues.
Vulnerable groups take prevalence
Understandably, another top priority will be the protection of vulnerable demographics such as children and current or at-risk problem gamblers. The KSA has firmly declared that it will work towards reducing the number of minors coming into contact with gambling through extensive data controls and additional monitoring of gambling providers.
Beware of your duty of care
Operators were also promised heightened scrutiny of their duty of care compliance coming 2026. There is a long list of reforms in the online gambling sector that is gradually being implemented, and gambling providers can rest assured that they will be tried and tested for compliance issues by the KSA.
There are a number of studies into player behaviours scheduled to conclude sometime this year, on the result of which the KSA is likely to introduce even more market amendments. One such study is the effectiveness of player financial checks that operators currently deploy – with the concluding statement certain to amend KSA’s course of action.
Do you have receipts for this money?
Last but not least, this year’s KSA agenda envisions significant developments on the anti-money laundering front. It is safe to assume that the Netherlands already has robust policies in place given its location on the world map, but the gambling regulator anticipates even more scrutiny – especially once the newly-established European AML agency AMLA springs into action later this year.
All in all, it is shaping up to be an eventful 12-month period for the gambling sector in the land of the tulips – even more so now that there is a new government in place.