“The gambling world is at a breaking point”: what Gambling Club interviews reveal

The online gambling world is changing faster than ever. Behind the scenes, pressure is mounting on casinos, affiliates, regulators, and players. Illegal providers are gaining ground. New laws are piling up. At the same time, the sector is trying to reinvent itself.

When you look at all the major interviews from GamblingClub.be side by side, one clear common thread emerges: the European gambling market is at a turning point. Not only in Belgium, but also in the Netherlands, France, Finland, and far beyond.

The interviews show a sector balancing between stricter regulations, technological change, and the fight against illegal casinos. But above all, they reveal how divided the vision for the future truly is.

Illegal casinos are the industry’s biggest concern

Virtually every interviewee mentions the same threat: the illegal supply is growing faster than regulation can keep up.

Frank Kruit spoke openly about the “dirty casino SERP”. According to him, illegal affiliates manipulate Google using cloaking, parasite SEO, and fake copyright claims. As a result, legal entities are increasingly losing their visibility.

Eric Konings also warned about the consequences of stricter Dutch restrictions. According to him, more rules make the legal offering less attractive, which would push players toward foreign casinos.

This concern is also very much alive in Belgium. BAGO chairman Tom De Clercq emphasized that a strong legal offering remains essential to keep players away from unlicensed websites.

The message from all these conversations is remarkably unanimous: if legal parties disappear from Google and advertising channels, the illegal sector will immediately fill the void.

The player is central, but barely heard

Another recurring theme is the position of the player themselves.

Rick van Roij spoke in a raw interview about his gambling addiction and its impact on his life. David Ketteridge from Reset discussed the psychological consequences of problem gambling and the need for better guidance.

Yet, at the same time, criticism is leveled at the societal debate. Many insiders feel that recreational players are increasingly being treated as if every gambler is automatically a problem gambler.

This tension is visible in almost every interview. On one hand, the industry calls for better protection of vulnerable groups. On the other hand, there is a growing fear that over-regulation is precisely what pushes players toward illegal websites where no controls exist whatsoever.

Casinos want to become entertainment companies

Strikingly, major casino operators are building their future less and less purely around gambling.

Golden Palace CEO Massimo Menegalli spoke extensively about the “casino of the future”. According to him, casinos must evolve into social meeting places featuring entertainment, hospitality, and local integration.

Napoleon Games and Gamestate are also putting more emphasis on experience, community, and recreation. Arcade concepts in particular are growing fast in Europe.

Through this, the sector is trying to build a different image: less focus on pure gambling, more focus on entertainment and responsible gaming.

Europe searches for a new balance

The Gambling Club interviews also show how differently countries handle online gambling.

France opts for strong control via the regulator ANJ. Finland stands on the verge of a historic reform of its monopoly system. Belgium is introducing stricter age rules. The Netherlands continues to debate advertising bans and play limits.

Despite these differences, almost every country struggles with the same questions.

How do you protect players without pushing them away? How do you keep illegal casinos out of sight? And how much power have Google, Meta, and other tech platforms acquired within the gambling industry in the meantime? This is precisely why these interviews together provide a unique picture of a sector in transition—not from political slogans, but from the people who are in the middle of it every single day.