The Dutch center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) has prioritized the regulation of online gambling as a key campaign issue ahead of the general election on October 29. The party leader, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, stated that if elected, they would grant more power to the Dutch gambling regulatory authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), to strengthen market oversight and crack down on unlicensed online gambling operators.
Teun Struycken, the Secretary for Legal Protection at the National Security Committee, has proposed reforms to the 2021 Remote Gambling Act (KOA), suggesting raising the minimum age for online slots from 18 to 21. The VVD has committed to accelerating such reforms, enhancing measures to prevent gambling addiction, and expanding the supervisory and enforcement capabilities of the KSA.
Furthermore, the VVD emphasizes collaboration with other European countries and the adoption of innovative methods to combat transnational illegal gambling networks. This move responds to licensed gambling industry concerns about the growing scale of the black market in the Netherlands. Arjan Blok, CEO of the National Lottery, noted that up to a quarter of Dutch gamblers turn to unlicensed operators, resulting in a loss of approximately 1.3 billion euros in national revenue.
Currently, the VVD ranks third in the polls, expected to secure 23 to 25 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, following the Freedom Party (PVV) and the Green Party-Left Party/Labor Party alliance (GL-PvdA).
