KSA finds one in 10 gambling accounts opened by Dutch 18-year-olds created on their birthday

The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has published three comprehensive studies revealing that 11% of gambling accounts opened by 18-year-olds in the Netherlands are registered on their birthday, with 38% created within a month of turning 18. The research demonstrates gambling is becoming a socially normalised activity among minors and young adults well before they reach the legal age.

Analysing new account registrations from 1-7 May 2025, the KSA’s control database identified 15,761 newly funded gambling accounts. Young adults aged 18-24 comprised 33% of new accounts, with 41% of these opened by newly turned 18-year-olds. The pronounced surge in registrations on or immediately after 18th birthdays suggests widespread anticipation of legal gambling access.

Casino games dominate youth engagement

Contrary to industry assumptions that sports betting leads youth engagement, 72% of young adult accounts began with casino games, while only 11% started with sports betting. Young adults averaged four gambling days per month in their first quarter, with median daily stakes notably lower than older adults at 111 euros versus 209 euros.

Among young adults, 18-year-olds gamble more frequently but with lower stakes compared to 19-24-year-olds. Accounts starting with casino-only or sport-only products tended to remain consistent in month two, while dual-product accounts frequently switched to casino-only.

Early exposure begins in childhood

A qualitative study conducted by Youngworks involving 50 young people aged 16 to 21 showed that initial contact with gambling commonly occurred between ages 8 and 12, often through family activities such as Christmas scratchcards, lotteries and casual betting games at home. Crucially, most participants did not identify these early experiences as gambling at the time.

Between ages 12 and 14, independent gambling typically begins and is predominantly social in nature, including betting with friends, poker games and football-related pools. Minors often circumvent age restrictions by sharing online gambling accounts operated by older friends or family members, pooling money via mobile payment apps such as Tikkie. Popular platforms cited include TOTO, Bet365, BetCity and Unibet.

Regulatory pressure intensifies

A second study scrutinised survey data from 29,724 MBO students aged 15 to 24 during 2024-26. Around 32% reported gambling in the past year, including 28% of minors aged 15-17 and 39% of adults. Approximately 2% showed signs of gambling-related harm, correlated with online involvement and multi-product use.

The findings have intensified regulatory debate. Local politician Meryam Sumer of the Christian Democratic Party recently called for raising the minimum age for online gambling from 18 to 24, responding to findings that one in five young individuals in Enschede is currently in debt. However, the KSA’s chairman warned against such changes in February 2025, suggesting youngsters would be more tempted towards the black market.

In June, the cabinet proposed a near-total ban on online gambling advertising with only narrow exceptions. “I find it particularly concerning that more and more people, and especially young people, have started gambling online and are getting into trouble as a result,” a cabinet representative said announcing the measures.