Dutch safety measures backfire as players turn to unlicensed sites
The Dutch regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), reports steady player numbers for late 2025. However, strict new protection rules are unintentionally pushing high-stakes activity toward the black market.
The sector saw minimal revenue growth, yet the way people gamble is changing:
- Gross Gaming Result: €602m (up €2m from H1).
- Active Monthly Accounts: 1.38m (a significant rise).
- Average Monthly Loss: €124 per player.
- Channelling by Spend: Only 53% (despite 91% of players using legal sites).
The KSA attributes the surge in accounts to net deposit limits introduced in 2024. Because these limits trigger income checks at specific thresholds, players now open multiple accounts to bypass the rules. Consequently, while players remain in the legal system, they “hop” between providers to avoid financial scrutiny.
Young adults (18–24) remain a primary concern. They hold 22% of all accounts, even though they represent less than 10% of the population. Most of these players favour sports betting, though they lose less on average (€34 per month) than older gamblers.
Chairman Michel Groothuizen warns that AI and crypto are boosting illegal sites. Therefore, the Dutch government is considering an overarching gambling limit. This would track spending across all platforms at once. Groothuizen insists that legal sites must stay visible through controlled advertising; otherwise, players may struggle to distinguish safe providers from dangerous illegal ones.
Earlier, data from the KSA showed that gambling is now a standard part of daily life for many locals.
New Zealand passes online casino bill for 2027 launch
New Zealand’s Parliament has officially passed the Online Casino Gambling Bill through its final reading this week. Consequently, the nation is now preparing for a fully regulated iGaming launch in 2027. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden championed the legislation to enhance consumer safety and introduce a formal licensing framework. The bill currently awaits Royal Assent and should be enacted by May.
Under the new law, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will grant a maximum of 15 licences through a competitive process. This regime officially closes existing tax loopholes by requiring offshore operators to pay tax just like local businesses. Therefore, major players like Entain are already eyeing the market. Because Entain manages the TAB brand, it remains uniquely positioned to cross-sell sports betting and casino games.
Furthermore, the DIA now possesses formidable enforcement powers to police the sector. These tools include take-down notices and massive fines of up to NZ$5 million for serious breaches. Significantly, these rules apply to any operator accessible within the country regardless of their physical location. Any provider failing to secure a licence by the 1 December 2026 deadline must cease operations or face prosecution.
The government also intends to reinvest a portion of gambling profits into the community. Specifically, a proposed 4% levy on revenue could generate up to NZ$20 million annually for local sports and grassroots groups. Although some legal experts worry the “compressed” schedule limits consultation, the government remains committed to an operational start date of 1 January 2027.
VPN surge hides UK gambling black market trends
The British Gambling Commission warns that rising Virtual Private Network (VPN) use is masking the true size of the illegal gambling market. Tim Livesley, head of Data Innovation, notes that the Online Safety Act recently pushed more users to bypass web restrictions.
Previously, the regulator added a 30% uplift to its figures to account for hidden traffic. However, since July 2025, a much larger portion of traffic has vanished from plain sight. Consequently, the Commission now treats web traffic as a trend indicator rather than a literal headcount.
- Fluctuating Trends: Engagement with unlicensed sites lacks a consistent seasonal pattern.
- Stagnant Growth: Data from the last 21 months shows no sustained increase in black market activity.
- The July Spike: Ofcom data confirmed a massive VPN surge in July 2025. Although usage dipped shortly after, it remains 40% higher than old benchmarks.
The Commission is currently refining its methodology by collaborating with international regulators. Furthermore, it is gathering fresh insights through the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). Because illegal gambling remains a priority, the regulator will soon share new updates on its disruption and enforcement efforts.
