The Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit or KSA) has recently completed a six-month investigation into illegal gambling promotions appearing in Dutch publications. The probe, which concluded on March 20, 2025, revealed concerning patterns of offshore gambling operators being promoted through magazines and online newspapers across the Netherlands, potentially exposing vulnerable players to unregulated services.
Media Investigation Reveals Troubling Promotional Tactics
The KSA’s investigation was prompted by multiple reports about news articles encouraging readers to gamble on platforms that operate outside the Dutch regulatory framework. Of particular concern were promotions specifically highlighting the absence of Cruks protection – the Netherlands’ mandatory self-exclusion register designed to protect problem gamblers.
“This research proves that players are sometimes seduced into illegal gambling and even playing without Cruks without realising it,” the regulator stated in its findings. The investigation examined not only direct links to unauthorized gambling sites but also more subtle promotional techniques including brand recommendations, provider logos, and even imagery of Dutch banks that create an impression of legitimacy.
Following these discoveries, KSA representatives contacted 42 editorial teams across the country to explain the severity of promoting gambling services that bypass the Cruks system. The editors were instructed to immediately remove problematic content and received detailed guidance on avoiding similar violations in the future.
Understanding the Cruks Self-Exclusion System
To appreciate why promotions for “casinos without Cruks” are particularly troubling, it’s important to understand how the system operates. Implemented alongside the Remote Gambling Act, Cruks (Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen) serves as the cornerstone of the Netherlands’ player protection framework.
The system allows Dutch residents to self-exclude from all licensed gambling platforms using their DigiD (digital identity) by providing their public service number (BSN), surname, and date
of birth. Foreign nationals can also register through alternative identity verification methods.
When players attempt to register with an online operator or enter a physical casino, their information generates a unique code that’s checked against the exclusion list. If a match is found, access must be denied. The Cruks system also allows for involuntary registration through multiple channels:
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By direct player request (voluntary)
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At the request of a gambling operator (voluntary or involuntary)
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At the request of a family member or close associate (involuntary)
Exclusion periods range from a minimum of six months to a maximum of 99 years, making Cruks a powerful tool for interrupting problematic gambling behaviors.
Rising Searches Signal Potential Regulatory Challenges
Despite these protective measures, the Quality Mark for Responsible Affiliates (Keurmerk Verantwoorde Affiliates/KVA), a Dutch organization representing the affiliate marketing sector, has identified concerning trends that suggest unintended consequences of strict regulation.
KVA reports that online searches for terms like “casino without Cruks” or “casino without limits” have skyrocketed since October 2024, when the Netherlands implemented new deposit restrictions. Statistical data reveals a troubling trajectory: while 172,576 such searches were recorded in October 2024, that figure exploded to over one million (1,009,589) by mid-March 2025—nearly a sixfold increase in just five months.
The organization suggests this trend demonstrates how overly restrictive policies may inadvertently drive players toward unregulated alternatives. KVA representatives noted that:
The Netherlands’ over-zealousness in creating a fraud-free regulated market where all gambling is done legally has had certain unintended adverse effects.
Broader Enforcement Actions by KSA
The media investigation represents just one aspect of the KSA’s widening enforcement strategy. Earlier in March 2025, the regulator imposed a substantial €900,000 ($972,000) fine on Sarah Eternal for illegally operating the Casinosky platform. The violations included permitting Dutch players to access the site without proper age verification systems and offering cryptocurrency betting options—both prohibited under current regulations.
The authority has also disrupted illegal poker tournaments across Amsterdam, Asten, The Hague, and other locations. These operations resulted in the seizure of tens of thousands of euros in cash, with one organizer receiving a €110,000 penalty.
Additionally, the KSA has begun scrutinizing online gambling platforms that offer autoplay functionality, which is strictly forbidden in the Netherlands due to its association with problem gambling behaviors. The regulator has also investigated tipster sites like Analyse Master, raising concerns about their popularity among young adults despite finding no direct regulatory violations.
Market Challenges and Regulatory Effectiveness
The Netherlands’ regulated gambling market faces complex challenges beyond media promotions. According to recent KSA assessments, while the vast majority of Dutch players (91%) still gamble through legal channels, approximately half of all gambling revenue flows to unlicensed operators—a statistic that shocked even regulatory officials.
“That was a bit of a shock for us too,” admitted KSA Chair Michel Groothuizen, referring to the revised revenue analysis showing that only 50% of gambling funds remain within the legal market—a significant drop from previous estimates exceeding 80%.
This substantial disparity suggests that high-value players may be disproportionately drawn to illegal platforms offering fewer restrictions. Illegal operators typically offer several appealing features absent from regulated sites: higher betting limits, no mandatory cooling-off periods, cryptocurrency payment options, and—critically—no cross-checking against the Cruks exclusion register.
Upcoming Regulatory Reforms
Against this backdrop of enforcement challenges, the Netherlands is preparing for significant gambling regulation reforms. State Secretary for Legal Protection Teun Struycken has announced plans to introduce a reworked gambling bill by the end of 2025, aiming to strengthen consumer protections and address growing concerns about gambling-related harm.
The proposed legislation would expand the KSA’s enforcement capabilities, allowing the regulator to employ fake identities for supervision tests and streamline involuntary registrations in the Cruks system. Additionally, the bill contemplates raising the minimum age for high-risk activities such as online slots from 18 to 21 years—a measure KSA Chair Michel Groothuizen has publicly supported as sending a “strong signal” to younger citizens.
Other anticipated regulatory changes include:
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Implementing stronger restrictions on high-risk gambling products, particularly online slots
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Shifting to a “prohibited unless permitted” model for gambling advertising
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Establishing central deposit limits linked to financial capacity assessments
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Enhancing data access for research purposes
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Increasing enforcement powers to crack down on illegal operators
Legal Actions Against Unlicensed Operators
In a separate but related development, Nederlandse Loterij (the Dutch Lottery) has reportedly initiated legal proceedings against Lalabet, a Costa Rica-based gambling operator allegedly running an unlicensed platform targeting Dutch consumers.
This action highlights the multi-faceted approach Dutch authorities are taking to combat illegal gambling—not only through regulatory enforcement but also through civil legal channels. Such litigation may establish important precedents regarding the liability of offshore operators targeting Dutch players despite lacking proper licensing.
Preventative Measures
The Netherlands’ gambling regulatory challenges mirror those faced by other European jurisdictions implementing similar protective frameworks. Germany’s OASIS self-exclusion system functions comparably to Cruks, allowing players to block themselves from gambling activities when they recognize problematic patterns in their behavior.
What distinguishes the Dutch approach is the provision allowing family members or close associates to request involuntary exclusion—a relatively innovative feature in European gambling regulation. This mechanism acknowledges that individuals experiencing gambling problems may not always recognize the severity of their situation or may resist self-exclusion despite clear signs of harm.
For consumers seeking to avoid illegal platforms, the KSA maintains a comprehensive Gambling Guide on its official website (kansspelautoriteit.nl). This resource details all licensed operators authorized to offer gambling services in the Netherlands, helping players verify a platform’s legitimacy before engaging with it.
As the regulatory landscape continues evolving, Dutch authorities face the challenging balance of implementing protective measures while avoiding market distortions that could inadvertently channel players toward unregulated alternatives. The upcoming legislative proposals will likely face scrutiny from both consumer protection advocates and industry stakeholders as the Netherlands continues refining its approach to gambling regulation.
