Dutch parliament united on illegal market enforcement as government pledges open dialogue with Meta and Google

The Dutch House of Representatives has united across party lines to demand faster and tougher enforcement against illegal gambling sites, as Justice State Secretary KT van Bruggen revealed the government is developing DNS blocking legislation and maintaining regular dialogue with Meta and Google on illegal advertising.

During a three-hour Gambling Committee debate on Thursday, ten committee members spanning the full political spectrum addressed concerns about the illegal market, advertising and age limits. The debate comes as the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) estimates channelisation has dropped below 50%.

Van Bruggen confirmed the cabinet is developing legislation to introduce DNS blocking for illegal sites, with a consultation scheduled for early 2027. Members pushed for the same rapid blocking powers currently used to address terrorist and child pornography sites to be applied to unlicensed gambling operators.

Tech Platforms Commit to Biannual Reporting

Members advocated for stronger powers to be given to the KSA, with tougher action taken against payment providers, social media sites and affiliates that facilitate illegal gambling. The issue of illegal gambling advertising on social media has become a growing concern, with the Dutch sector previously pursuing legal action against Meta.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Van Bruggen said: “Meta, especially as one of the parties, but also Google, is really open to this conversation.” She confirmed the government would receive a report every six months on illegal gambling advertising across these platforms.

Van Bruggen insisted the issue should also be dealt with at an EU level through the Digital Services Act. Candidates from the VVD party urged the government to take a “harder stance” against these big tech platforms.

Age Limit Debate Postponed Pending Market Control

Some politicians stated their opinion that the legal gambling age should be increased to 21 from the current 18 years. Among those pushing for the increased age limit were the SGP’s Diederik van Dijk and the CDA’s Tijs van den Brink. A 2025 bill previously proposed raising the age for “higher-risk” activities like online slots.

Van Bruggen insisted more time was needed to establish whether an age limit hike to 21 would actually push young people towards unlicensed offerings. She confirmed that work to increase black market enforcement would take precedent, while increasing the gambling age would be revisited once the illegal market is under control.

“It is time to tackle that illegal offer properly, so that we can move towards a time when we do have to move towards an age increase. If that turns out not to be necessary, then we don’t do it,” she said.

Calls for Full Reversal Rejected

Beyond raising the age limit to 21, Van Dijk called for a complete reversal of the Netherlands’ 2021 online gambling legalisation, which established a legal market that has since faced tighter restrictions and increased taxes. Van Dijk also voiced his opinion that all gambling advertising should be banned, including for lotteries and land-based casinos.

He questioned the government’s involvement with state-owned entities Holland Casino and Nederlandse Loterij in assessing how to limit gambling harms. Much of the debate focused on stricter supervision and player protection, though the government indicated enforcement against illegal operators remains the immediate priority.