With nearly €2 million allocated to a new national early detection network, the Netherlands aims to identify problem gamblers earlier and prevent addiction from developing in secret. The SVSG initiative marks a major turning point in the fight against gambling addiction and paves the way for a more structured, humane and effective approach.
A national initiative to identify warning signs
In the Netherlands, a new milestone has been reached in the fight against gambling-related harm. On 4 December 2025, the national regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), announced that it was granting nearly €2 million to an ambitious project: the launch of a national network for the early detection of gambling-related risks — the Samenwerkingsverband Vroegsignalering Schade door Gokken (SVSG).
This funding comes from the Verslavingspreventiefonds, which is itself financed by a contribution levied on legal gambling operators. Thanks to this grant, the authorities and partners in the social sector intend to create effective coordination to identify and support people in distress before an addiction takes hold.
Why this project was essential
Every year, the findings are damning: gambling problems are often only identified at a late stage, when the financial, psychological and social consequences are already serious. The Ksa report mentions that around 209,000 Dutch people are considered to be at high risk of gambling addiction, but for the majority, help comes too late, if at all. Shame, lack of information about support services, or the absence of appropriate channels mean that many are left to face their difficulties alone.
The chosen model is based on a previous success: since 2019, the country has had a similar national network, the Samenwerkingsverband Vroegsignalering Alcoholproblematiek (SVA), focused on alcohol. This structure has demonstrated that a coordinated approach allows for better structured interventions. The SVSG will be the equivalent for the gambling sector.
This new partnership brings together several major players in the health, social assistance and debt relief sectors. Among them are:
- Trimbos-instituut, a leading organisation in mental health and addiction prevention,
- Verslavingskunde Nederland (VKN), an association specialising in addiction issues,
- GGD GHOR Nederland, the network of public health and local emergency services,
- and Nederlandse Schuldhulproute (NSR), responsible for supporting people in serious financial difficulty.
These entities will collaborate with local councils, social services, trained professionals and people who have themselves experienced addiction. The aim is to make help accessible, without judgement, and to implement a coherent strategy at national level.
Gradual roll-out
The SVSG is scheduled to launch in early 2026, with pilot projects in five municipalities. In each municipality, a local team will be responsible for identifying at-risk cases, referring them to the appropriate services and offering tailored support. Regional stakeholders, debt counsellors and social welfare professionals will work together to identify warning signs.
At the same time, the project includes training and awareness-raising efforts: not only professionals already working in the social sector, but also students in relevant fields will be trained to recognise the early signs of problematic gambling behaviour. A national digital platform will be created to share feedback and best practices and to update guidelines, training modules and e-learning courses.
From 2027 onwards, the intention is to extend the scheme to at least fifteen municipalities, laying the foundations for a sustainable prevention and support network. This type of centralised organisation should not only make it easier to identify cases at risk, but also harmonise intervention methods, train practitioners and ensure consistent and sustainable follow-up.
An inspiring model for other countries?
If the SVSG proves successful, the Netherlands could become a European model in the fight against gambling addiction. The approach, which combines prevention, early detection, psychological support and financial assistance—all coordinated at the national level—could inspire other countries facing the same challenges.
But everything will depend on the effective implementation of the project: the commitment of local stakeholders, the quality of training, responsiveness to warning signs and the ability to maintain the system over time.
The launch of the SVSG, with a budget of €2 million, heralds a new era in the prevention of gambling addiction in the Netherlands. This national plan, bringing together medical, social, community and municipal stakeholders, focuses on early detection and coordinated support — an ambitious strategy that deserves to be followed closely.