The Dutch national gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has set its strategic focus for 2026, with a heightened commitment to tackling illegal gambling activities across the country. According to the KSA’s newly released Supervisory Agenda, the regulator is ramping up its efforts to curtail both online casinos and land-based illegal gambling. This ambitious plan includes enhanced collaboration with key industry stakeholders, including licensed operators, payment service providers, and international regulatory bodies.
The KSA’s organizational overhaul, effective from January 2026, now features three specialized directorates: player protection and advisory, permits and supervision, and digitalization, analysis, and operations. This restructuring aims to strengthen the KSA’s ability to respond to the rapidly changing gambling landscape, particularly as technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, and the rise of illegal gambling offerings create new challenges.
Combating Illegal Gambling: A Multi-faceted Approach
The KSA’s most pressing priority remains the combat of illegal gambling. With the goal of ensuring that 90% of gambling players choose licensed providers, the authority has outlined a comprehensive strategy for 2026. This approach targets not just the online gambling space but also seeks to disrupt unlicensed land-based operations.
Key to the regulator’s strategy is collaboration with various stakeholders, such as payment providers, social media companies, and hosting services. The KSA aims to make illegal gambling infrastructure less accessible by targeting these critical components of the industry. The regulator plans to continue its success from 2025, where notable progress was made, including the blocking of multiple .nl affiliates and the swift removal of illegal gambling content from large media platforms.
The authority also anticipates leveraging the new Digital Services Act to enhance its fight against illegal content, including cracking down on illegal gambling affiliates who support unlicensed operators.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups: Minors and Young Adults
In 2026, the KSA will also increase its efforts to protect vulnerable groups, particularly minors and young adults, from exposure to gambling. Evidence shows that minors are increasingly visiting both legal and illegal gambling sites, sometimes using adult accounts to bypass age restrictions. The KSA aims to reduce the number of underage individuals exposed to gambling by working with licensed operators to strengthen age verification measures.
Additionally, the regulator will continue monitoring the gambling behavior of young adults aged 18-24, using data from its monitoring system. The KSA intends to refine its intervention strategies, ensuring that at-risk players are identified and supported before their behavior escalates. Efforts to raise awareness about the risks of gambling, particularly among minors and young adults, will continue through expanded public campaigns and the launch of a new consumer platform, “Open About Gambling,” which will provide resources on safer gambling and access to help for those struggling with addiction.
Advertising Regulations and Ensuring Compliance
Advertising remains another area of focus for the KSA. The regulator has been cracking down on gambling ads targeting vulnerable groups, particularly minors and young adults. This follows the July 2023 ban on gambling advertisements across most media channels in the Netherlands, including television, radio, and print. This ban was extended in July 2024 to cover gambling sponsorships for sports clubs and competitions.
In 2026, the KSA will continue its stringent oversight, particularly targeting the use of “role models” in gambling ads. The use of celebrities, sports stars, influencers, and streamers to promote gambling remains prohibited. The authority will also continue to take action against “untargeted” advertising, ensuring that operators are complying with the rules surrounding advertisements that may reach vulnerable groups.
Strengthening Anti-Money Laundering Efforts
The KSA is also focused on enhancing its monitoring of compliance with the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (Wwft). This will include overseeing risk assessments, customer due diligence, and the reporting of suspicious transactions. In 2026, the KSA will implement stricter regulations under the new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) framework, which will expand its oversight responsibilities to additional parties and financial sanctions monitoring.
As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and reliable gambling market, the KSA will continue to issue guidance on the use of AI and monitoring tools by licensed operators, ensuring that they are adhering to the highest standards of compliance.
With a clear focus on maintaining a secure and trusted gambling environment, the KSA’s agenda for 2026 will see a significant strengthening of its enforcement actions. These measures aim to disrupt illegal gambling, protect vulnerable players, and ensure compliance with advertising and financial regulations, reinforcing the KSA’s role in safeguarding the Dutch gambling market.
Source:
Toezichtagenda 2026, kansspelautoriteit.nl, January 2026
