Dutch lawmakers push for faster action against unlicensed gambling, with DNS blocking and payment rails in focus

Members of the Dutch House of Representatives spent a three-hour Gambling Committee debate on 3 September 2026 arguing for tougher tools against the online black market. For PSPs and other infrastructure providers, the key point is simple: the discussion is no longer just about operators, but about the systems that keep unlicensed gambling reachable and fundable.

1. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum discussed whether the Netherlands’ current framework is enough to deal with gambling websites operating outside the country’s licensing system. The debate put website blocking, payment infrastructure, online advertising and the legal gambling age on the political agenda at the same time, which is a useful sign of where enforcement pressure is moving.
2. Several members, including representatives from ChristenUnie, PRO and SGP, called for stronger action against operators that are not authorised to offer gambling services to Dutch consumers. The complaint was not subtle: existing powers were described as insufficient to deal efficiently with websites using foreign domains.
3. One of the main proposals was broader DNS blocking power. In practice, that would allow authorities to restrict access to specified websites at the domain-name system level, giving them another enforcement tool when direct action is harder to apply. State Secretary for Justice and Security K.T. van Bruggen said draft legislation is being developed, with a public consultation expected in early 2027.
4. Van Bruggen also drew a line between Dutch domains and foreign domains, saying websites using the .nl extension can be dealt with more directly, while foreign-domain sites create additional jurisdictional difficulties. That distinction is exactly why DNS blocking is getting attention: it is being considered as a way to extend enforcement beyond the easier cases.
5. The Kansspelautoriteit has already treated the wider ecosystem around illegal gambling as an enforcement priority, including affiliates, payment providers and internet service providers that may facilitate access to unauthorised gambling services. For high-risk PSPs, that is the part to watch: the political debate is moving from “who is taking bets?” to “who is keeping the flow running?”

The broader message here is that the Dutch approach is shifting from operator-only enforcement to infrastructure enforcement. If you sit anywhere near acquiring, payment processing or traffic distribution for gambling, the Netherlands is clearly preparing to look further down the stack.