Three studies commissioned or compiled by the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) have provided new detail on gambling among Dutch people aged 15 to 24, including how early exposure can begin, what happens around the legal gambling age and which activities carry greater risks.
The research indicates that gambling experiences can appear well before adulthood. YoungWorks found that children commonly encounter gambling between ages 8 and 12 through relatives or older friends. Scratchcards, lotteries and informal betting may initially feel like ordinary social activities rather than gambling.
By ages 12 to 14, some young people begin gambling independently with friends, including through poker and football pools. Online exposure becomes more prominent between 14 and 16. Some minors also reported accessing gambling websites through accounts belonging to older friends, siblings, relatives or parents.
Gambling Activity Rises Around Legal Age
A separate analysis examined 15,761 online gambling accounts with betting activity in May 2025 among consumers aged 18 to 24. Of the 5,244 accounts belonging to this age group, 2,144, or 41%, were held by 18-year-olds.
Registrations clustered closely around the 18th birthday. In 2024-25, 11% of accounts opened by 18-year-olds were registered on their birthday, while 38% appeared within the following month.
The research also examined whether sports betting commonly leads young adults toward casino games. The findings did not establish a simple progression. Casino games were the initial product in 72% of accounts, while sports betting accounted for 11%.
Among accounts that started with casino games alone, 97% remained with casino play the next month. Of those beginning with sports betting alone, 80% continued with that product. Accounts using both products showed more movement, with 57% changing their product mix during the following month and 73% of those switching to casino-only play.
The study found that 18-year-olds gambled on average 12 days per month during their first three months, compared with 10 days for people aged 19 to 24.
MBO Students Show Continued Underage Exposure
Another study collected responses from 29,724 MBO students aged 15 and above. Gambling during the previous year was reported by 28% of minors and 39% of participants aged 18 or older.
Among underage students who gambled, 51% used at least one of the three product categories identified as carrying the highest risk of gambling harm: casino games, sports betting or gaming machines. The proportion reached 65% among young adults who gambled.
Scratchcards ranked highest among underage gamblers at 46%, followed by bingo at 34% and gaming machines at 28%. Among adults, casino games led at 46%, followed by scratchcards at 35% and sports betting at 32%.
The research also found greater exposure to higher-risk products among underage students who gambled exclusively online. Around 78% participated in at least one of the three highest-risk categories, compared with 34% among those who gambled only in physical locations.
The KSA said: “In the coming months, the KSA will continue to work to see what additional measures are needed to better protect young people. This is already being worked on together with the government.”
Source:
“KSA Studies Examine Dutch Youth Gambling Patterns”, lcb.org, August 24, 2026
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