TLDR The Dutch regulated gambling market has flatlined, with player activity and revenue barely changing over six months Average monthly player losses dropped to about €120 in late 2025 after stricter deposit limits and advertising rules Licensed operators’ share of total gambling revenue fell from 56% to 53% in 2025, with more money flowing to unlicensed platforms Players are opening accounts across multiple operators to get around per-site deposit limits Dutch regulators are considering a nationwide deposit limit across all licensed sites to close loopholes
The Dutch gambling market looks stable on paper. But a closer look at the numbers tells a different story.
New data from the Kansspelautoriteit, the country’s gambling regulator, shows the regulated market has barely moved in the past six months. Licensed operator numbers are steady. Player activity is flat. Revenue is mostly unchanged.
This comes after two years of tightening. The Netherlands rolled out stricter deposit limits, tougher advertising rules, and higher taxes on gambling operators. The goal was to cut down on harm and bring more control to the industry.
On one level, the plan is working. Average monthly losses for players dropped to around €120 in the second half of 2025. That is a clear drop compared to earlier in the year.
But the gains come with a trade-off.
Licensed Operators Are Losing Ground
Licensed platforms handled 56% of total gambling revenue at the start of 2025. By late 2025, that number had slipped to 53%. The shift is small but steady.
That three-point drop means close to half of all gambling spending in the Netherlands may now be happening on unlicensed websites. These sites operate outside Dutch law and face little oversight.
The trend is not sudden. It is gradual, which makes it easy to overlook. But it is