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Dutch Gambling Debate Highlights Deep Political Divisions

By jili tutorial · September 5, 2026

Dutch Gambling Debate Highlights Deep Political Divisions

Overview: A Heated Parliamentary Discussion on Gambling Reform

Yesterday’s political debate on gambling in the Netherlands revealed sharp divisions over the future direction of legislation. The country is still implementing a series of reforms to the Remote Gaming Act (KOA), as mandated by previous governments. However, the intense discussion made it clear that online gambling regulation remains a highly polarizing issue among Dutch politicians.

As reported in detail by Frank Op de Woerd for media outlet Casinonieuws, State Secretary of Justice Claudia van Bruggen faced nine Members of Parliament, each raising distinct concerns around player protection and regulatory enforcement.

Expanding Website Blocking Powers

MP Mirjam Bikker (ChristenUnie) Calls for Stronger Action

Mirjam Bikker, MP from the ChristenUnie party, led the debate by advocating for a broader advertising ban and faster blocking of illegal websites. She also questioned why the proposed increase of the minimum gambling age to 21 has been delayed.

State Secretary van Bruggen agreed that illegal websites need more effective action. She explained that websites with the .nl domain are relatively easy to take down, but foreign domains remain problematic as they fall outside the government’s jurisdiction for forced domain blocking.

Van Bruggen confirmed that a draft law introducing wider-reaching DNS blocking powers is currently in development. This legislation is scheduled to enter consultations in early 2027.

Age Limit Debate: Evidence Required Before Action

On the age limit issue, van Bruggen argued that an immediate increase to 21 could be counterproductive for protecting young adults. She stressed that a comprehensive analysis is needed first to prove that raising the age limit actually reduces harm, rather than simply driving young people toward the black market.

Setting Concrete Success Indicators

MP Mohammed Mohandis (PRO) Seeks Measurable Goals

MP Mohammed Mohandis from the Progressive Netherlands (PRO) party called on the government to adopt concrete indicators for transparently measuring gambling policy success each year.

Mohandis also raised concerns about the potential privatization of the Nederlandse Loterij. He argued that the government should take a tougher stance against illegal operators by targeting financial institutions and intermediaries that facilitate payments to the black market. This point echoes recent statements from the Dutch online gambling trade body VNLOK.

Dutch Lottery Privatization Under Review

Van Bruggen responded that an ongoing study is examining the effects of privatization. The Research and Data Center (WODC), part of the Ministry of Justice, is also conducting relevant research. Once all data has been collected and assessed, the discussion on bringing the Nederlandse Loterij into private hands will return to the agenda.

Targeting Financial Infrastructure

On the payments issue, van Bruggen agreed that targeting financial infrastructure is vital. She confirmed plans to introduce clearer standards defining when a company “facilitates” illegal gambling.

A Call for Complete Withdrawal: “Turn Off the Tap”

SGP MP Diederik van Dijk Takes the Most Critical Stance

Diederik van Dijk from the conservative SGP party was perhaps the most outspoken critic. He directly called for a complete withdrawal of the online gambling act, stating that the government should “turn off the tap” rather than “buying better mops.”

Van Dijk also insisted on a complete advertising ban across all types of gambling, including land-based casinos and lotteries. He questioned the government’s direct involvement in the sector through Holland Casino and the Nederlandse Loterij, calling for the abolition of the National Lottery.

State Secretary Rejects Hardline Positions

Naturally, State Secretary van Bruggen rejected all of van Dijk’s points. She argued that currently 500,000 Dutch citizens gamble online monthly. Removing the legal offer from the market would not stop demand—it would simply shift it to unregulated websites.

She made a similar argument against a complete advertising ban, emphasizing that licensed operators must remain recognizable to Dutch gamblers. As for abolishing the National Lottery, van Bruggen dismissed the idea entirely, noting that it has a much lower risk profile than other forms of gambling. She asked that the debate remain focused on online gambling.

Ruling Party Calls for Balanced Regulation

D66 MP Joost Sneller Warns Against Over-Regulation

One of the more notable statements came from Joost Sneller, MP for D66—one of the three ruling parties. Sneller acknowledged that re-regulation of the online gambling market has caused some damage and called for political self-reflection.

However, he cautioned against the “waterbed effect”—a metaphor describing how a drunk looks for his keys under a lamppost simply because that’s where the light is. In other words, Sneller argued that over-regulation will inevitably push players toward the illegal market. He urged for a level-headed regulatory response.

Conclusion: Clear Direction for Future Policy

As Op de Woerd summarized: “There is a fundamental difference of opinion on reversing legalization, but she saw a lot of overlap on topics such as illegal websites, supervision, advertising, duty of care, and powers of the Ksa.”

“The direction of future gambling policy is becoming increasingly clear: stricter supervision, less space for online advertising, central financial protection, and much more attention to the illegal market.”