Gambling in the Netherlands: is the minimum age of 21 still too low?
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11 Mar 2025 •
Reading time: 4 minutes In the Netherlands, the debate over the legal age for gambling is gaining momentum. Currently set at 21, this minimum age is being questioned by a number of experts and organisations, who believe that it does not adequately protect young adults from the risks of addiction.
The National Rapporteur on Addiction, Arnt Schellekens, recently expressed his views on the issue, stressing that the age of 21 may still be too low to prevent risky behaviour. He argues for a stricter approach and faster implementation of reforms to prevent young people from falling into the trap of compulsive gambling.
Regulatory developments
The gambling sector in the Netherlands is subject to constantly evolving regulations. Since the opening of the online gambling market in October 2021, the Dutch government has had to deal with an upsurge in problems linked to addiction and the exposure of young people to gambling advertising.
Recent studies by institutes such as WODC and Ipsos I&O highlight the specific dangers of online gambling compared with more traditional games of chance. This research shows that online gamblers, particularly young adults, are more likely to develop problematic behaviour.
Faced with these findings, certain organisations such as Verslavingskunde Nederland are campaigning for stricter rules and a higher minimum age. Their main argument is based on the fact that young adults’ brains are still developing until they are around 25, making them more vulnerable to addictive behaviour.
Legal framework to be strengthened
According to Schellekens, the obligations of gaming operators with regard to player protection remain too vague. He is calling for stricter regulation and clear guidelines to ensure better application of the law by the Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit). These new guidelines should be drawn up in collaboration with independent scientists, addiction experts and people with direct experience of compulsive gambling. It also recommends that the rules be updated every three to five years to reflect changes in the market.
The increase in the minimum age to 21 for high-risk gambling, supported by the NRV, may not be sufficient. Schellekens and other experts suggest raising it further, to 24 or 25, the age at which the brain is fully developed. This idea had already been raised by Mike de Graaff, founder of BetComply, who questioned the choice of 21 when studies show that young adults remain vulnerable until the age of 24.
Advertising and sports sponsorship under scrutiny
One of the most sensitive issues in the debate concerns gambling advertising and sponsorship. While Belgium has banned targeted gambling advertising since 1 July 2023, the Netherlands has adopted a more gradual approach, limiting certain forms of advertising, particularly those aimed at young people and vulnerable groups.
Proposals have been put forward to go further, including a total ban on sports sponsorship by gambling operators. This measure, which will come into effect on 1 July 2025, is provoking debate, as it will have a significant impact on the revenues of sports clubs and competitions.
More measures to protect players
To strengthen the protection of young players, Schellekens proposes the introduction of a system of progressive betting limits according to age, preventing younger players from spending large sums of money too quickly. He also suggests introducing a risk classification for games of chance, inspired by the system used in the financial investment sector. This classification would enable players to be better informed of the specific dangers associated with each type of gambling.
Finally, it recommends the creation of an independent intermediary organisation to manage access to players’ data for research purposes. This entity would act as a buffer between gaming operators and researchers, guaranteeing the confidentiality of information while enabling better analysis of addiction trends.
Need for European harmonisation?
The debate on minimum age and the regulation of gambling is not confined to the Netherlands. Other European countries, such as Belgium and the United Kingdom, are adopting increasingly strict measures to protect vulnerable gamblers. Harmonisation of regulations at European level could facilitate the introduction of effective and consistent protection, while taking account of the specific features of each market.
The Netherlands therefore finds itself at a crossroads: should it maintain the minimum age of 21, or follow the experts’ recommendations and raise this limit even further? The answer will depend largely on future political decisions and impact studies on the effectiveness of current regulations.