Dutch Deposit Limits Linked to Increase in Illegal Gambling
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:A recent study on illegal gambling websites in the Netherlands has revealed a large increase in traffic following the introduction of deposit limits last year.
The analysis, published this week by the Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (KVA), shows that searches for terms like “casino without limits” and “casino without Cruks,” the Dutch self-exclusion system, have led to a steady rise in visits to illegal gambling sites since the restrictions took effect in October.
According to KVA’s findings, traffic to illegal gambling sites was 172,576 visits in October, rising to 294,255 in November. By February, that number had climbed to 412,997, and as of March 5, total visits had exceeded one million.
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Additionally, the number of illegal domains appearing in top search results for these keywords has increased from 19 in October to 72 in March.
Call for a Balanced Approach to Regulation
The KVA, an advisory board affiliated with XY Legal Solutions, oversees affiliate sites’ compliance with Dutch gambling regulations through its Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (QMRA) initiative. The organization monitors traffic to illegal gambling sites using SEO analytics tools such as Semrush.
Responding to the data, the KVA warned that tightening advertising restrictions on legal gambling could further drive players toward illegal operators.
The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), introduced new player protection measures in October 2024, including deposit limits based on a player’s net deposits in a calendar month.
Players exceeding €700 in net deposits within a month are blocked from making further deposits while for those aged 18-25, the limit is lower at €300. However, players can raise their limit by submitting proof of income.
A report published by the KSA on February 14 found that the proportion of gamblers losing more than €1,000 per month had dropped from 4% to 1% since the rules were introduced.
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An Increase in Money Lost on Illegal Sites
However, the regulator also noted a shift in where gambling money is spent. While 91% of players still use legal providers, the share of total gambling losses spent on legal sites fell from 60% to 50%. This suggests that half of all money lost in the gambling market now goes to illegal sites.
The introduction of the policy rules has led to a reduction in excessive gambling at legal providers. However, there is a great chance that heavy players have switched to illegal providers, while recreational players almost all continue to play at legal providers.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
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