Dutch ministers move to increase minimum betting age to 21 on select games

The Dutch government is considering several measures to mitigate risks associated with online gambling, including adjusting the age limit on select games. Teun Struycken, minister for legal protection in the Netherlands, proposed numerous changes during last week’s address to parliament, the most significant of which is increasing the minimum age for slots and other “risky” … Continued The post Dutch ministers move to increase minimum betting age to 21 on select games appeared first on Esports Insider.

Feb 18, 2025 - 16:18
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Dutch ministers move to increase minimum betting age to 21 on select games
Netherlands flag flying

The Dutch government is considering several measures to mitigate risks associated with online gambling, including adjusting the age limit on select games.

Teun Struycken, minister for legal protection in the Netherlands, proposed numerous changes during last week’s address to parliament, the most significant of which is increasing the minimum age for slots and other “risky” games of chance to 21. Struycken also suggested mandatory deposit limits, as well as stricter rules on gambling advertising.

With restrictions against influencer and celebrity marketing, brands are already limited in what — or even, where — they can advertise. Gambling ads, for instance, are prohibited on TV, radio or in public spaces. It’s certainly a start, but Struycken still believes more steps need to be taken to prevent young adults from falling victim to problem gambling.

“For me, the most important starting point is protecting all citizens from gambling-related harm,” Struycken said in his address. “In doing so, I go beyond preventing addiction and also look at other harm that participation in gambling can cause, such as debts.

“It is necessary to protect all people, especially those who have not yet come into contact with gambling or who have stopped gambling. In doing so, I focus in particular on minors and young adults.”

Notably, this is not Struycken’s first attempt to institute changes. A government review in November claimed that a bill previously backed by Struycken “failed” to protect players.

Nevertheless, the Netherlands Gambling Authority has already taken steps to curb any worries. These include deposit limits, which are set at the equivalent of $325 for players aged 18 to 24 and approximately $733 for players 24 and older. Betting companies also must be notified before players can set specific deposit limits.

Worries about problem gambling have grown since online betting was legalized in the Netherlands in 2021. A recent review conducted by the Scientific Research and Data Centre in the Netherlands found that regulators were giving players too much responsibility to self-report their issues. It estimated that 18% of young adults with their own account were at “high risk” of developing a gambling issue.

At the moment, not everyone is convinced that changes will help. Representatives including the Dutch Online Gambling Association have warned that tightening restrictions on gambling will only drive more young players to offshore accounts and other unregulated sites. It is estimated that nearly half of the gambling activity in the Netherlands already is conducted on black markets.
Thus, it begs the question: what’s next?

Deposit limits have helped, though they only go so far on their own. Whether the Netherlands can successfully pass more wide-scale changes is worth watching, especially for places like the United States where legislation continues to evolve. Thirty-eight states now offer legalized online betting, with Missouri set to become the 39th this summer.

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