Commission questions gambling tax and gambling addictions
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1 Nov 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes The Standing Committee on Justice and Security in the Netherlands wants clarity about the significant growth in turnover at illegal online gambling sites. It seems that more and more people are finding their way to these unregulated sites, and the committee wants to know why. And what about the number of gambling addicts since online gambling became legal in the Netherlands? These questions arise from a huge list of 541 questions that the committee submitted to the government.
Members of the committee had until 24 October to submit their questions about the ministry’s budget for 2025. The eight questions about gambling show that there are significant concerns about both illegal gambling and addictions. However, who exactly asked the questions remains unknown in the published list.
Illegal gambling sites and European approach
The first question about gambling focuses on the growing turnover at illegal gambling sites. The committee wants to know whether there is an explanation for this popularity. They also ask whether the Netherlands is in talks with other European countries to perhaps take joint action against illegal gambling sites.
The committee members also want to know how many fines the Gaming Authority has imposed this year and what the expectations are for next year. They are requesting a split between fines for legal providers and those for the illegal boys.
Earlier this year, Michiel van Nispen (SP) called on the cabinet to talk to the Gaming Authority about stricter action, especially regarding the duty of care at legal online casinos. The committee now asks whether the results of those discussions can be shared with the House.
More gambling addictions since the introduction of the Remote Gambling Act?
Since the introduction of the Remote Gambling Act, more and more people are concerned about gambling addictions in the Netherlands. Experts have already warned that it can sometimes take years before a gambling addiction really becomes noticeable, because people often only seek help after an average of seven years.
Nevertheless, the 2023 LADIS report shows an increase in the number of people seeking help for gambling addiction. Healthcare institutions reported a growth of 15.3% compared to 2022. A striking development, because the number of gambling addicts had been declining for a few years.
The committee now wants to know how much the number of treated gambling addicts has increased since the new online gambling legislation. They also specifically ask how many young adults are being treated for gambling addiction and how many people contact the Gambling Desk or register in the Cruks exclusion register each year.
Questions about the increase in gambling tax
Finally, the committee takes a critical look at the gambling tax. One committee member wants to know what increase was originally on the table and why a phased increase was chosen instead of a direct increase. The initial plans proposed increasing the gambling tax to 37.8%, but it was ultimately decided to divide this over several steps.
The committee also asks which organizations sent letters about the tax plans and whether these concerns led to the moderate increase that is now included in the budget.