Netherlands moves to tighten action on illegal betting, with DNS blocking and talks with Meta and Google

The Dutch parliament appears to have found rare common ground: illegal gambling is now the immediate regulatory priority, ahead of slower-moving debates such as raising the betting age. For PSPs, that matters because the next step is not just operator enforcement; it is pressure on payment providers, social platforms, and affiliates that help unlicensed sites stay in business.

1. A three-hour debate in the Gambling Committee of the House of Representatives brought together 10 lawmakers from across the political spectrum, and the message was unusually aligned: the black market needs to be tackled first. The discussion drew on research reports, sector activity data, and an April 2026 letter from State Secretary of Justice KT van Bruggen.
2. According to estimates from the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator, channelization to the legal market has fallen below 50%. That is the number authorities are now treating as a warning sign, because it means a large share of play is still happening outside the licensed system.
3. Van Bruggen confirmed that the cabinet is working on legislation to allow DNS blocking of illegal sites, with a public consultation planned for early 2027. Lawmakers also called for stronger powers for the KSA and tougher action against payment providers, social platforms, and affiliates that support unlicensed operators.
4. Online advertising was another focal point, especially illegal betting ads on social media. The legal Dutch gambling industry is already pursuing Meta through the courts, while van Bruggen said the government is keeping an open line of dialogue with major tech platforms and sees a willingness from Meta and Google to continue that exchange.
5. As part of that arrangement, the government will receive reports every six months on the presence of illegal gambling advertising on those platforms. Van Bruggen also said the issue has to be addressed at the European level through the European Union Digital Services Act, while VVD lawmakers pressed for a tougher stance from the government toward Big Tech.

The debate also reopened the question of raising the legal betting age from 18 to 21, but there was no decision. The proposal is not new: it was already tabled in 2025, and it remains on the agenda rather than off it.