The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has unveiled surprising data indicating that a mere 1% of players contribute to 43% of the country’s gross gambling revenue (GGR), highlighting a significant concentration of high-risk behavior among a small group of gamblers.
Key Study Insights According to the KSA’s latest study, conducted between October 2023 and September 2024 using pseudo-anonymized data from 25 licensed operators, the regulators observed that 1% of gambling accounts incur losses exceeding €2,500 ($2,600) monthly. Additionally, more than 10,000 accounts each month record losses equating to the median net income in the Netherlands, approximately €2,500 ($2,600).
Figures show that the average Dutch player’s monthly loss is about $150, with 68% of accounts losing $108 or less, totaling roughly 700,000 accounts. However, 6.4% of players (about 66,000 accounts) suffer losses greater than $756 monthly.
Particularly at risk are young adults aged 18 to 23, with this group’s average monthly loss hovering around $66. Alarmingly, 1% of young players account for 33% of the GGR generated by their age group.
The study further highlights that gamblers more susceptible to harmful practices are more active during late-night hours, specifically between midnight and 6 am. These “night-time” players are defined as those who gamble for five or more nights a month or lose over €300 ($320) during these hours.
Proposed Interventions In response to these findings, the KSA plans to take action to mitigate harmful gambling practices by urging operators to be actively involved in their prevention. KSA regulations mandate that all operators must respond to signs of harm with “appropriate interventions,” yet there is inconsistency in how these interventions are reported, with some operators only documenting the most severe cases. This inconsistency makes it challenging to determine the precise moments when intervention is necessary.
Furthermore, tracking betting patterns across multiple operators could provide clearer insights, as nearly half of the players in the legal market hold accounts with more than one gambling provider. The KSA aims to leverage this data to encourage greater transparency around intervention thresholds and methods, ultimately enhancing supervision standards and reducing problem gambling rates. These regulatory advancements coincide with the opening of a new gambling harm treatment center in Amsterdam.
The KSA confirmed it is considering stricter intervention rules, potentially redefining the criteria for operator action to ensure better protection for players.
