Dutch Regulator Documents Normalised Youth Gambling with Early Online Shift to Casino Games

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has released three studies detailing extensive gambling exposure among Dutch youth from pre-teen years onward, with many opening licensed accounts at the earliest legal moment. As reported by iGaming Future, the data shows 41 percent of accounts held by 18- to 24-year-olds in a May 2025 sample belonged to 18-year-olds. These new users bet more frequently in their first three months than those aged 19-24.

The regulator’s report summarized the pattern directly: “Gambling seems to be highly normalised in our society.”

Early Exposure Patterns and Online Migration

Research consultancy Youngworks surveyed 50 people aged 16-21 on behalf of the KSA, with in-depth interviews for those over 18. Many first encountered gambling between ages eight and 12 by watching adult relatives or friends. Independent activity often began between ages 12 and 14 as a harmless group activity, including scratchcards, informal sports bets or home poker games.

By ages 14 to 16, gambling migrated online and became a solitary pursuit. The study identified use of unlicensed platforms, early signs of problem gambling and account sharing to bypass age checks. Winnings were often pooled and transferred via the Dutch payment app Tikkie.

Claudia Van Bruggen, Minister for Legal Protection and Prisons, stated: “I find it particularly concerning that more and more people, and especially young people, have started gambling online and are getting into trouble as a result.” In June she announced a cabinet proposal for a blanket ban on online gambling advertising and added: “It is high time to reverse this trend.”

Regulatory Options and the Black Market Limitation

A separate KSA analysis of 15,761 accounts opened by 18- to 24-year-olds in May 2025 that stayed active for three months found 72 percent began with online casino games alone. Just 11 percent started with sports betting, directly challenging the assumption that sports serves as the primary gateway.

The report concluded: “[The data] clearly shows that the proportion of minors who gamble is high.” The KSA plans further work on protective measures with the Dutch government. Politician Meryam Sümer of the Christian Democratic Party called for raising the online gambling age from 18 to 24. The government has considered lifting the threshold to 21 for high-risk products such as online slots, yet the regulator is unlikely to endorse it, citing the risk that minors will migrate to the black market.

The Normalisation Challenge for Regulators

Age increases alone carry a clear limitation in a market already showing early and intense youth participation. The KSA’s emphasis on collaborative safeguards beyond blunt restrictions offers a more practical route, one that operators and policymakers will need to track as advertising curbs take shape and offshore activity persists.

Reporting: iGaming Future

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