In The Hague, European gambling regulators took a new step forward in the fight against gambling addiction and the illegal gambling market. Gathered for the first Player Protection Conference 2025, sixteen countries, researchers and public health experts discussed a major issue: how to effectively protect gamblers, particularly young people, in the face of an increasingly accessible and globalised offer.
An unprecedented meeting in The Hague
For the first time, the Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), brought together in The Hague the main institutional players involved in regulating the sector. For two days, the Player Protection Conference 2025 brought together sixteen countries, leading researchers, public decision-makers and addictionology experts. The aim: to pool knowledge to better protect gamblers and combat the excesses of the illegal market.
Organised in the unique setting of Madurodam, an emblematic miniature park in the Netherlands, the conference was resolutely geared towards international cooperation. No representatives from the gaming industry were invited. The Ksa wanted to reserve this space for regulators and independent experts, to avoid any conflict of interest and to focus discussions on player protection.
The crucial issues of player protection
The discussions focused on a number of key themes: how to assess players’ financial vulnerability, what markers should be used to detect risky behaviour, and how to step up prevention among young people.
The presence of the French National Gaming Authority (ANJ) provided an opportunity to recall the efforts being made in France to develop tools for monitoring addiction and better regulate gambling advertising. The Gaming Commission also participated.
At the heart of the discussions was the need for a common language, shared standards and improved data circulation. Of particular concern was the rise of illegal online casinos, often hosted outside Europe.
When research sheds light on regulation
Among the speakers were a number of leading academics, including Professor Heather Wardle, a specialist in gambling policy at the University of Glasgow, Arnt Schellekens, National Rapporteur on Addiction, and Virve Marionneau, Director of the Centre for Research on Addiction and Governance at the University of Helsinki.
One of the highlights of the conference was the closing panel on the first day. Heather Wardle and Anders Dorph, Chairman of GREF (Gambling Regulators European Forum) and Director of the Danish Gambling Authority, spoke to a former gambling addict. His testimony was a powerful reminder of the human dimension behind the statistics.
The shadow of the illegal market
One subject that attracted particular attention was the proliferation of unauthorised online casinos. Speakers highlighted the difficulty of blocking these sites, which often operate from offshore jurisdictions and are accessible to young adults via social networks and targeted advertising.
For regulators, the key lies in international cooperation. Sharing data, taking coordinated legal action, strengthening technological detection tools: these are just some of the avenues explored during the workshops.
A collective dynamic under construction
By bringing together researchers, decision-makers and regulators, the Player Protection Conference 2025 marks a turning point. It reflects the desire to build a global approach, where player protection takes precedence over commercial interests.