A more intensive effort is needed to take down illegal apps. The Ksa (Dutch Gambling Authority) is fully committed to eliminating illegal gambling.
The Irish and UK gambling regulators have signed a landmark agreement to harmonise their efforts in regulating the sector, with the main aims of aligning regulations, protecting consumers and combating cross-border illegal activity.
n February 2024, Betsson AB announced the acquisition of Goldrun Casino for €27.5 million in order to gain a lasting foothold in the Dutch online gaming market. However, more than a year later, the deal has stalled, as the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) has still not given its approval.
The National Gaming Authority has assessed gambling operators’ action plans to combat money laundering in 2024. While progress has been made, shortcomings remain, particularly in detection systems and the handling of alerts.
The ANJ is stepping up its action against excessive gambling and underage gambling by imposing strict prevention plans on operators. Faced with alarming figures – 1.17 million problem gamblers by 2024, including 360,000 problem gamblers – the ANJ is demanding concrete, measurable measures, including early detection of risky behaviour and personalised support for vulnerable gamblers.
The Médiateur des jeux’s 2024 report highlights a year marked by a large number of disputes, particularly in sports betting, but also by better cooperation from operators, with 47% of proposals accepted.
The Netherlands is considering gradually raising the legal gambling age to better protect young adults and combat the black market. During a parliamentary session, Secretary of State Teun Struycken proposed a phased implementation to prevent players from turning to illegal platforms.
Lucky 7 Casino was recently criticised by the Ksa for serious breaches of its duty of care, including a customer service that was unavailable in Dutch and flaws in the protection of self-excluded players. After being warned, the operator quickly corrected certain problems, but remains under scrutiny.
The UK Gambling Commission has announced new regulations coming into force in December 2025 to strengthen player protection. These measures include banning bonus offers that combine several types of games and capping wagering requirements at 10 times the amount of the bonus, against sometimes abusive practices.
Japan has stepped up its fight against illegal online casinos with strict new measures aimed at limiting access to these unauthorised platforms. The government has stepped up controls on online payments, advertising, and affiliates of offshore gambling sites, while running awareness campaigns to inform the public of the risks associated with these practices.
Finland wants to ban affiliate marketing in their new online gambling legislation. According to the Finnish government, affiliate marketing carries risks. They cite misinformation, unclear boundaries between legal and illegal providers, and the lack of consumer protection. They also see tax avoidance as a problem because many affiliates are based outside Finland.
Corbett Bookmakers has been fined £686,070 by the UK Gambling Commission for serious failings in anti-money laundering and responsible gambling. The investigation revealed inadequate controls on at-risk players, allowing some customers to bet and lose large sums of money without intervention.
The Dutch authorities, via the Ksa, have warned newspapers about the illegal promotion of unauthorised gambling sites. Following an in-depth investigation, several media outlets have been singled out for carrying advertisements or links to unregistered platforms, putting gamblers at risk.
The CJEU (Court of Justice of the European Union) stands for the highest authority within the European Union regarding the EU law has the task to make sure that it’s been respected and interpreted correctly and uniformly across all the member states.
Germany’s Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG) has ruled that the German Gaming Regulator (GGL) cannot require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block illegal gambling sites via IP blocking, considering them to be mere technical intermediaries. This decision limits the GGL’s means of action, which will have to continue to target the hosts of these sites rather than the ISPs.
Since the regulation of the Dutch online gaming market in 2021, licensed operators have had to comply with strict rules. However, unauthorised platforms continue to attract Dutch players with promises of quick winnings. This is particularly true of Lalabet, an online gaming platform based in Costa Rica and operating for Dutch players without a legal licence.
Since September 2024, the National Gaming Authority (NGA) has stepped up its efforts to raise awareness among young amateur sportsmen and women of the risks associated with sports betting. In collaboration with the SportEasy application, an awareness campaign has been launched, followed by free sessions in sports associations.
