ChristenUnie demands tough action against underage gambling websites
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17 Oct 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes ChristenUnie MP Mirjam Bikker is sounding the alarm. She wants to know why young people can register on illegal gambling sites without any difficulty. In some cases, they can even deposit money from a youth account, without any age verification.
A recent study showed that this is possible at almost half of the tested websites. The Christian Union now wants to know how this is possible, and why blocking sites like this does not work. Bikker asks the minister sharp questions about the role of banks and the lack of supervision.
Advertising for illegal gambling sites reaches young people through social media
The ChristenUnie is also concerned about how young people are reached through chat apps like Discord and Telegram. There, ads and promotions are shared that lead minors directly to illegal casinos. These ads are difficult to track or stop.
Bikker wants the government to investigate whether these servers can be taken offline. She also calls for stricter rules to prevent this kind of surreptitious advertising from reaching young people. According to her, the current law appears too weak to act effectively.
Crypto currencies and gift vouchers make supervision almost impossible
Many young people use crypto tokens or gift cards to gamble, eliminating supervision. The Dutch Banking Association calls this a dangerous route. Bikker asks the minister whether the Netherlands will push hard within Europe for rules that could block these payment methods.
This follows previous concerns about minors’ access to online gambling. Young people are exposed to gambling at a young age, often without parents knowing or being able to stop them.
New developments, such as the increasing offer of esports betting, are also attracting young people. Which shows how new platforms are rapidly gaining ground among a young target group.
Fines barely paid and supervision falls short
The Kansspelautoriteit already handed out 56 million euros in fines to illegal providers, but less than 3% of these have been paid. Bikker wants to know how this is possible. She calls for more powers for the regulator, such as taking gambling sites offline without court intervention.
She also wants to know how young people already in trouble are helped. Young people who become addicted or lose a lot of money often receive little support. Bikker wants to know what the government is doing for this group.
Finally, she asks the long-standing question: is it time to reverse the legalisation of online gambling?