European gambling companies pour billions into state coffers – fully committed to safe gaming
It’s a staggering amount: in 2024, the largest European gambling companies paid a combined €3.8 billion in taxes.
It’s a staggering amount: in 2024, the largest European gambling companies paid a combined €3.8 billion in taxes.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is preparing to align its anti-money laundering (AML) guidelines with the new EU regulatory framework. With the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Regulation (AML/CFT) about to come into force, the association is strengthening its policy for a more transparent and secure iGaming industry.
From October 2024, the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), the Dutch gaming regulator, has introduced a new player protection scheme: monthly deposit limits. From now on, anyone depositing a net amount in excess of €700 must suspend any further payments until the end of the current month. Young adults, aged between 18 and 25, are subject to a more restrictive ceiling of €300.
Björn Fuchs is no unknown name in the world of online gambling. As chairman of VNLOK, the industry association for legal online gambling providers, he knows exactly what is going on. He is also Chief Digital Officer at the Janshen-Hahnraths Group, the company behind Fair Play Online.
German gambling watchdog GGL came out with figures for 2024. According to them, things are going pretty well. More people are playing legally, and they are said to have cracked down on quite a few illegal websites. But the casinos themselves don’t believe any of it.
For French online gambling operators, July 1 marks a real regulatory shockwave, with the entry into force of a new tax system deemed ‘record-breaking’ and ‘unfair’ by industry professionals.
Björn Fuchs (48) lives in Zutendaal, Belgium. He once started at RTL, where he worked his way up to Manager Sport & Entertainment. Now he is Chief Digital Officer at Janshen-Hahnraths Group and responsible for Fair Play Online in the Netherlands.
Last May, a meeting was held between the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) and the providers to improve the player files. The Ksa announced that almost all license holders of online gambling were present.
On 26 June 2025, a landmark decision was handed down by the Frederiksberg court: 178 unauthorised gambling websites were deemed illegal and immediately blocked for Danish internet users. These platforms offered Danish players unlicensed gambling, bypassing national regulations.
Since the Royal Decree of 27 February 2023 came into force, Belgium has tightened its rules on gambling advertising. However, one major player is an exception: the National Lottery, owned by the State, enjoys a privileged position. This inequality has provoked strong protests from Groen, the Flemish ecologist party.
In the highly regulated world of British gambling, the white label model has become a strategic entry point for many foreign brands. Rather than obtaining their own licence (a long, costly and complex process), these companies join forces with an operator already licensed in the UK.
On 24 June 2025, the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) published its 2024 activity report. This document marks five years of existence for the institution and represents a turning point in its regulation. At the halfway point in its 2024-2026 strategy, the ANJ has set a clear course: fewer gamblers at risk and greater responsibility for operators.
A growing number of Dutch websites promoting online casinos are choosing to affiliate with illegal parties. The switch is often motivated by financial motives. On average, legal providers pay several tens of euros per new player. In the illegal market, those amounts run into thousands of euros.
In autumn 2024, the Kansspelautoriteit and self-help group AGOG asked people with a gambling problem how they experience their addiction. It yielded 139 completed questionnaires. The answers give an honest insight into what goes wrong – and why quitting is so difficult.
From 1 July 2025, there will be a total ban on gambling sponsorship in sport in the Netherlands. This means that sports clubs will no longer be allowed to advertise online casinos. This hits clubs hard, especially the smaller ones. The BBC devoted an entire episode of Business Daily to this topic.
The Dutch House of Representatives is considering the use of Klarna at gambling websites. Two motions were submitted to push for a ban on buy now, pay later options at legal online casinos. But what exactly is going on with this?