SauDI Reports Decrease in High-Risk Gambling Cases
Following the introduction of new deposit regulations in the Netherlands in October 2024, the status of high-loss gambling accounts has improved significantly. The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator, has published new data showing a decrease in higher-than-average losses across licensed Dutch online gambling operators.
**Key Developments and Outcomes**
The new regulations, drafted by former Minister of Legal Protection Franc Weerwind, include automatic loss limits for all registered players. If a player deposits more than €700 net in a calendar month, further deposits are blocked for the rest of that month. For young adults (18–24 or 18–25, as reported), the deposit limit is lower, at €300, with similar blocking mechanisms in place.
The reduction in high-loss accounts is evident in the data. The proportion of players losing more than €1,000 per month has dropped from 4% to 1%. The average monthly losses have dropped sharply from €116 to €80 per regulated player—a 31% decrease.
Moreover, the percentage of players depositing more than the set limits has fallen from 9.7% to 2.2%. For young adults, this figure dropped from 12% to 1.9%.
**Operator and Regulatory Response**
The share of players gambling with legal operators (known as channelization) has remained stable, indicating that players have not shifted en masse to illegal sites. The KSA attributes this to the "mandatory contact moment", which requires players seeking higher limits to contact operators, lessening the likelihood of moving to unregulated platforms.
**Summary Table**
| Regulation Aspect | 18–24/25 (Young Adults) | 24+ (General Players) | Effect on Market | |----------------------------------|------------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------| | Deposit Limit | €300 | €700 | Reduces high-loss behavior | | Request to Raise Limit | > €150 | > €350 | Mandatory contact with operator | | % Exceeding Limits (before/after)| 12% → 1.9% | 9.7% → 2.2% | Large reduction | | Avg. Monthly Loss (before/after) | Not specified | €116 → €80 | 31% decrease | | High-risk players (>€1,000 loss) | Not specified | 4% → 1% | Significant reduction |
**Conclusion**
The new Dutch deposit regulations, in force since October 2024, have successfully curbed high-loss gambling behaviours without significantly diverting players to the illegal market. The proportion of high-loss accounts has decreased, and both average and excessive losses among regulated online gamblers have sharply declined, marking a positive step forward in gambling harm reduction. The KSA has indicated that it may continue to monitor the effects of loss controls on the Dutch online gambling market.
Technology has played a crucial role in the implementation of the new Dutch deposit regulations, as it enables the automatic loss limits for registered players and the tracking of deposits and losses across licensed Dutch online gambling operators. The sports betting industry, as a significant part of the online gambling market, has been affected by these regulations, with a notable decrease in high-loss sports bets among players.
