The Kansspelautoriteit in the Netherlands is taking a hard line. In 2026, the regulator is setting its sights on illegal gambling providers and the protection of young people.
Visible fight against illegal gambling sites
Illegal gambling remains a major problem, and the Gambling Authority knows this all too well. For 2026, the organization is therefore allocating extra manpower. Not to continue issuing warnings from behind the scenes, but to intervene visibly.
The approach focuses on the infrastructure behind illegal parties. That means: making deals with payment service providers, hosting companies, and social media. Everything to thwart illegal sites and make them inaccessible to players.
Vulnerable players receive protection that was previously lacking
The protection of minors and young adults is being given higher priority than ever. This is not an empty promise, as a separate department has even been set up for this purpose within the Ksa’s new organizational structure.
From January 2026, this new unit will focus full-time on player protection. The goal is clear: to prevent young people from getting into trouble through online gambling. Because although there are rules, supervision is not a given. The Ksa wants to change that starting this year.
Advertising and duty of care under the microscope
License holders will be monitored more strictly in 2026, especially regarding advertising and the duty of care. The time of vague promises and half-hearted campaigns is over.
The regulator expects providers to intervene actively if players show risky behavior. Advertising expressions are also being scrutinized. Not because there is something new at play, but because the rules are stretched too often. The Ksa is now opting for clarity.
Gambling legislation gets sharper teeth
Compliance with the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft) remains a spearhead. Here too, it is about more than just checking boxes.
The Ksa wants to maintain confidence in the market, and that starts with transparency. Gambling providers must be able to demonstrate that their processes are watertight. Those who cannot do so run a higher risk of sanctions in 2026 than in previous years.
Background: why this change of course now?
The sharpened focus did not come out of thin air. The call for more protection of vulnerable players has been sounding in The Hague for some time. The ministry wants the sector to take responsibility, and that message is now being translated through supervision.
By making the new priorities visible, the Ksa is putting itself more firmly on the map. Not as a reactive watchdog, but as an active player in the public debate.