Dutch lawmakers are proposing steep fines and near-total advertising restrictions to combat the rapid growth of online gambling in the Netherlands. The initiative comes amid rising concerns over gambling addiction, especially among young people, and follows a record fine for illegal gambling operations.

Members of Parliament Mirjam Bikker of the Christian Union (CU) and Sarah Dobbe of the Socialist Party (SP) introduced a bill that would allow the Dutch Gambling Authority, or Kansspelautoriteit, to impose fines up to 100 percent of a company’s annual revenue for violations. This follows the agency’s recent record fine of €25 million against Novatech for offering illegal gambling services. Dobbe described the current system as inadequate, saying, “These companies generate hundreds of millions in revenue. That’s going to really hurt.”

The proposal also calls for faster shutdowns of illegal gambling websites, which currently can remain online for months while operators move servers to evade enforcement. In addition, the lawmakers want to strengthen the national exclusion registry, Cruks, allowing problem gamblers to be barred from participation more quickly and for longer periods.

Dobbe cited the unintended consequences of the 2021 legalization of online gambling. Before that, legal gambling in the Netherlands was mostly limited to state-run venues such as Holland Casino or the Dutch Lottery. Since legalization, dozens of online gambling sites became accessible, including to minors. “People are being ruined,” she said. “It is deeply unjust that commercial companies profit from people who are made addicted.”

Bikker emphasized the easy access to gambling through mobile devices. “Young people carry a slot machine in their pocket all day,” she said. “It’s even easier than opening a beer or lighting a cigarette,” quoting Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the Kansspelautoriteit.

The proposal follows multiple reports highlighting the personal impact of online gambling. Dave van der Schaaf, a 33-year-old former gambling addict, said, “I lied, cheated, and manipulated.” Chris, 21, began gambling online at age 16 and lost €20,000 in a single day. “On average, I gambled €500 to €1,000 per month over the past years,” he said, adding that he is now trying to recover from severe addiction. Frank, 53, lost hundreds of thousands of euros, lost contact with his family, and spent nights sleeping in his van. “During one ride, I lost thousands of euros,” he recalled.

Data from the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (WODC) and the Kansspelautoriteit indicate roughly 450,000 new gamblers have entered the market since 2021. The National Alcohol and Drugs Information System (LADIS) shows a continued rise in gambling addiction.

Bikker and Dobbe stress the high social cost of online gambling, arguing that advertisements for gambling are far more visible than those for tobacco, despite similar addiction risks. Bikker noted research published in The Lancet linking gambling to significant addiction risks. “With gambling, the harmful effects only become visible when someone is deeply in misery,” she said.

The lawmakers’ proposals seek to make the online gambling market safer and hold companies financially accountable for illegal or harmful operations.