Pragmatic Play games are disappearing from illegal casinos
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2 Jun 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes
Several Dutch players seem to be unable to access Pragmatic Play games on unlicensed online casinos in the Netherlands.
A message that changes everything for Dutch players
Since the end of May 2026, visitors located in the Netherlands who have attempted to open Pragmatic Play games on unauthorised casino platforms have been greeted by a message stating that the game is not available in their region.
However, the phenomenon does not appear to be uniform. The article published by CasinoNieuws.nl was amended following indications that the block did not necessarily affect all users or all illegal casinos. At this stage, this does not represent a total and officially confirmed disappearance of Pragmatic Play games across the entire black market accessible from the Netherlands, but rather a noticeable trend on several unauthorised sites.
To date, the exact reason for this block has not been made public. Pragmatic Play has not issued an official statement regarding these measures. It is possible that Pragmatic Play has decided to intervene directly to restrict access to its games from the Netherlands on unauthorised platforms. It is also possible that this development is linked to broader discussions surrounding the illegal market.
Why is this blocking important?
Blocking popular content can have a tangible impact on the appeal of illegal casinos. Unlicensed sites often seek to attract players with extensive game libraries, featuring well-known titles and reputable providers. When these games disappear or become inaccessible, the offering loses some of its appeal.
In the Netherlands, this approach aligns with one of the objectives of the Alliance against Illegal Gambling, established last year by the Dutch Gaming Authority. This alliance aims, in particular, to make unauthorised offerings less appealing to players. If a provider as popular as Pragmatic Play becomes unavailable on illegal platforms, this could weaken their ability to compete with licensed operators.
According to data from Blask cited in the source, Pragmatic Play is reported to have achieved a market share of 11.85% in the Dutch online casino sector. This figure illustrates the extent of its influence: when a player of this size becomes less available on unlicensed sites, the potential impact goes beyond the simple case of an isolated provider.
A precedent with Evolution
The Pragmatic Play case is reminiscent of a trend already observed with another major provider: Evolution Gaming. The latter had also made its games unavailable on illegal sites accessible from the Netherlands.
In Evolution’s case, the move followed an investigation by the UK Gambling Commission, the UK’s regulatory body. Following this investigation, Evolution initially blocked its games on illegal websites in the UK, before deciding more broadly to withdraw from the black market.