Meld Vals Spel, the portal to report illegal gambling in the Netherlands
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12 Dec 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes November 25, 2024 marks a major turning point in the fight against illegal online gambling in the Netherlands. The Dutch professional associations VNLOK (Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders) and NOGA (Netherlands Online Gambling Association) have joined forces to launch an innovative tool: the Meld Vals Spel. This portal, accessible via www.meldvalsspel.nl, aims to report and combat dubious practices of unregulated gambling platforms.
Urgent need for protection
While online gambling has been legal in the Netherlands since 2021, unauthorized platforms continue to attract players, sometimes even posing as legal operators.
“These illegal sites exploit loopholes in the system and put players, especially the most vulnerable, at risk.”
Helma Lodders, Chair of VNLOK
The practices reported include lack of player protection, excessive bonuses and underage access to these sites. These violations jeopardise the efforts of licensed operators, who must comply with strict rules set by the Dutch gaming authority, Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa).
How does Meld Vals Spel work?
The portal allows professionals – whether VNLOK members, NOGAs, licensees or partner organisations – to report suspicious activities. Reports can concern sites or applications offering easy access without age verification, using fake logos to simulate legitimacy, or directly targeting vulnerable players.
Each report contributes to building a map of illegal practices, allowing authorities to take targeted action.
“This portal is a crucial tool to detect, analyse and act against these practices. It perfectly complements the efforts already made by Ksa.”
Eric Konings, interim director of NOGA
Growing threat
A recent report reveals that every month, around 270,000 Dutch consumers end up on illegal sites via Google searches. These sites take advantage of a reassuring message, promising for example unlimited deposit or without registration in the CRUKS register (Dutch self-exclusion system). These tactics intentionally target players who have chosen to withdraw from legal gambling, increasing the risks.
Feedback from the field also shows that these platforms allow payments via youth accounts, facilitating access for minors. The Meld Vals Spel portal aims to expose these abuses and eradicate them.
Ambitious goals for a lasting impact
For three years, Dutch players have been able to enjoy a legal and regulated offer of online games. However, the persistence of illegal players threatens this balance. By combining strict regulation, reporting tools and awareness campaigns, the associations hope to significantly reduce the impact of these platforms.
Beyond collecting reports, Meld Vals Spel aims to raise public awareness of the dangers of illegal gambling and to work with authorities to take swift action. The information collected may be forwarded to the KSA, but also brought to the attention of policy makers and digital platforms such as social media.
The fight against illegal gambling is far from over, but the launch of Meld Vals Spel represents an important step towards a safer digital environment. Players, authorities and legitimate operators now have a powerful ally in this battle. The initiative should also deter illegal operators, who are facing increased surveillance.