In the Netherlands, nearly 9,800 people adopted the BetBlocker blocking tool last year to effectively limit their access to gambling platforms, while a large group of land-based casinos decided to officially recommend this free solution.
Mass adoption driven by users themselves
In the Netherlands, the fight against gambling addiction has reached a new milestone. Nearly 9,800 people started using the BetBlocker blocking tool last year as a real device to prevent access to gambling platforms. Now, a major player in the land-based casino sector has also chosen to direct its customers towards this free and anonymous solution.
According to psychologist and responsible gaming consultant Pedro Romero, the Netherlands is already one of the most active countries in terms of BetBlocker usage. Last year, exactly 9,795 people started using the service organically.
The decision to stop gambling often comes at a time of vulnerability. Any lengthy or administrative procedure can then become a decisive obstacle, but BetBlocker works differently. There is no waiting period. Users can protect themselves instantly.
The decisive role of a group of casinos
However, the most significant announcement concerns the commitment of the JVH Gaming & Entertainment Group, an organisation best known for operating Jack’s Casino. The group has become the first land-based casino organisation in the Netherlands to actively refer its visitors to BetBlocker.
‘We are sincerely grateful to see land-based establishments such as JVH Gaming & Entertainment Group setting an example and actively promoting tools that can help people beyond the casino, going far beyond what is required,’ Pedro Romero emphasises on LinkedIn.
The limitations of the national exclusion system
In the Netherlands, the national self-exclusion register Cruks already plays a central role. This system prevents registered individuals from accessing legally authorised gaming operators in the country, similar to the Belgian EPIS system.
As Pedro Romero points out: ‘Cruks is essential, but it only excludes people from licensed Dutch operators. In reality, many people who decide to take a break also want to be protected from unlicensed operators.’
This is precisely where BetBlocker comes in as an additional layer of protection. Unlike systems limited to a single jurisdiction, BetBlocker acts directly on the device being used. Whether on a phone, tablet or computer, once activated, the software blocks access to more than 329,800 gambling websites and apps worldwide. It is no longer just a matter of prohibiting entry to certain legal establishments or platforms, but of reducing overall exposure to gambling.
The service is also based on two essential principles: it is free and anonymous. No payment is required, and no complex administrative procedures are necessary.
The support of a group of casinos for an independent tool could well mark a lasting turning point. One thing already seems certain: prevention is no longer solely a matter for public policy, but also for voluntary choices made by the industry itself.
Is BetBlocker available in Belgium?
BetBlocker is available in Belgium via their official website. It complements the EPIS system’s blocks and the blacklist of illegal casinos
It has been available in French since February, which has increased its popularity in Wallonia, although no user numbers have been officially published yet.