The Dutch House of Representatives agreed to step up enforcement against the illegal gambling market after a three-hour debate in the Gambling Committee. MPs called for fast-track blocking of unlicensed sites using mechanisms similar to those applied to terrorism and child abuse material.
Ten committee members from across the political spectrum took part. The session reviewed market reports and a letter from State Secretary for Justice KT van Bruggen, which acknowledged that channelisation had fallen below 50% according to regulator KSA estimates. A majority, including representatives from ChristenUnie, PRO and SGP, backed tougher action against the black market.
Parliamentarians are demanding expanded powers for KSA and sanctions against payment providers, social media platforms and affiliates working with unlicensed operators. Van Bruggen said the cabinet is preparing draft legislation on DNS blocking for unlicensed sites, with consultation scheduled for early 2027.
The issue of illegal gambling ads on social media was raised separately — a problem that has already led the industry to sue Meta. Van Bruggen said Meta and Google are open to dialogue and that the government will receive reports on illegal advertising every six months. VVD MPs called for a firmer stance on Big Tech and for the issue to be escalated at EU level under the Digital Services Act.
Several politicians proposed raising the gambling age from 18 to 21. A similar initiative was floated in 2025, when a bill sought to raise the age for high-risk products such as online slots. Van Bruggen pushed back, saying more time is needed to assess whether the move would drive young people to illegal operators. SGP MP Diederik van Dijk went further, calling for a full reversal of the 2021 online gambling legalisation and a ban on all advertising, including lotteries and land-based casinos.
The state secretary concluded that the priority is clearing out the illegal market; the age question will return later.
