Illegal gambling: Google and Apple remove 856 apps in nine months 

Google and Apple removed 856 illegal gambling applications in the Netherlands during the first nine months of 2026. Among them, 71 were taken down following a report from the Dutch regulatory authority. This operation highlights the scale of the issue and echoes the fight underway in Belgium against unauthorized online casinos. 

Hundreds of illegal apps disappear 

Illegal casinos do not only hide behind websites. Some also attempt to reach players directly on their phones via the Google and Apple app stores. 

In the Netherlands, the two tech giants removed no fewer than 856 illegal gambling apps between January and September 2026. These figures appear in a parliamentary document published on November 10, in response to questions regarding the 2027 budget of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security. 

Of these 856 removals, 71 followed reports from the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), the authority responsible for overseeing gambling in the Netherlands. The remaining applications were removed directly by Google and Apple without requiring a report from the regulator. 

This cooperation appears to be working: according to Dutch authorities, every single app reported by the Ksa to the two companies was removed. 

Regulator reports have already doubled 

The figures take on even greater meaning when compared with previous years. 

In 2025, Google and Apple removed 1,021 illegal apps over the entire year, 33 of which disappeared following intervention by the Ksa. 

In 2024, the tally was significantly lower, with 36 removals, including 15 after an official report. 

In just nine months of 2026, the number of apps removed following regulator intervention has therefore more than doubled compared to all of 2025. 

This does not necessarily mean illegal apps are multiplying. These results may also reflect more active monitoring and improved cooperation with the platforms. 

The Ksa relies on its own investigations, as well as reports from consumers and other industry stakeholders. It has been working with Apple since August 2024 and with Google since May 2025. In fact, when its teams inspect certain suspicious apps, they sometimes find they have already vanished from the stores. 

Fake games hiding real illegal casinos 

Some apps use particularly deceptive methods to attract internet users. 

In April 2025, the Ksa had already issued warnings about apps that appeared to offer simple mobile games. Once installed, however, they redirected users to illegal online casinos. 

In other words, behind an app that looks harmless may lie access to an unauthorized gambling platform. 

Fraudsters may even adopt the visual identity of well-known companies to inspire trust. The Dutch regulator notably cited an app using the logo of Holland Casino, a legal operator in the Netherlands—a technique that can easily deceive an inattentive user. 

The problem is not limited to the apps themselves. In July 2026, the Ksa also took action against advertisements for illegal gambling displayed inside ordinary gaming apps. This operation resulted in the removal of ads and the suspension of advertising partners. 

These represent two distinct actions, however: removing an illegal app versus taking down an advertisement that links to an unauthorized casino. 

And what is the situation in Belgium? 

This Dutch offensive recalls a reality well known to Belgian authorities: illegal operators are multiplying their methods to reach players despite bans. 

In Belgium, the Gaming Commission (GCB) monitors the sector and identifies platforms offering unlicensed gambling. 

Unlike the Netherlands, the figures presented in the parliamentary document do not cover applications removed in Belgium. 

Yet the challenge is comparable: preventing unauthorized operators from reaching players by bypassing national rules. 

As Gambling Club has reported on multiple occasions, the Belgian Commission continues to regularly identify new illegal platforms. More than 300 illegal websites have thus been added to the blacklist since January 1, 2026. 

Why these removals also matter to Belgian players 

An application available on a phone is not necessarily legal. Nor does appearing in a search result mean a casino holds authorization to offer its services in Belgium. Belgian law is clear. Gambling operators must hold an appropriate license issued by the Gaming Commission. 

Without this authorization, they cannot legally offer their services to Belgian players. 

The risk is financial as well. 

On an illegal platform, users do not benefit from the same safeguards as with a licensed operator. In the event of an issue with a withdrawal or a blocked account, avenues for recourse can be severely limited. 

For players, the first reflex should therefore remain checking whether the casino genuinely holds a Belgian license, even when accessed via an app. Think you have played on an illegal website or app? Consult our guide and follow the emergency steps to limit your risks. 

What resources are available to continue the fight? 

In the Netherlands, monitoring apps represents only part of the regulator’s work. 

The question of financial resources was also raised in the November 10 parliamentary document. 

For 2026 and 2027, authorities have budgeted a one-off contribution of €290,000 intended to support the implementation of the European anti-money laundering framework. 

The Dutch government is also examining the financial implications of future amendments to online gambling legislation. Any resulting costs will need to be absorbed within the Ksa’s budget, supplemented by the Ministry of Justice if necessary. The objective is to enable the regulator to carry out its missions in a sector where operator tactics evolve rapidly. 

A battle extending beyond app stores 

With 856 removals in nine months, Google and Apple demonstrate that they can play an important role in combating illegal gambling. However, removing an app is not enough to eliminate the operator behind it. Authorities must also continue monitoring websites, advertisements, and the various channels used to attract players. 

For Belgium, the Dutch example underscores the importance of cooperation between regulators and major technology companies. 

The results achieved in the Netherlands do not yet allow authorities to measure how many players were genuinely prevented from accessing illegal casinos. Nevertheless, they show that coordinated action can rapidly remove hundreds of unauthorized applications. 

It now remains to be seen whether these removals will have a lasting impact on the presence of illegal operators, both in the Netherlands and across the rest of Europe.