Gross Gambling Revenue in the Netherlands Rises to €1.47 Billion: Player Protection and Growth of the Black Market
Gambling Activity and Revenue in 2024
The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) published a report in spring 2025 showing how the responsible gambling measures introduced in October 2024 have affected the market.
One of the key findings was a decrease in major losses alongside an increase in overall gambling revenue.
Key figures:
- €1.47 billion — Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) for 2024
- +6% compared to 2023 (€1.39 billion)
- +10% increase between the first and second half of the year — spike attributed to the European Football Championship in June
- 1.19 million active accounts monthly in the second half of the year
- 788,000 accounts play with licensed operators (5.4% of the adult population)
Player Behavior: Age Matters
The report highlights the age of players — particularly young people aged 18–23, considered a vulnerable group. That’s why the KSA closely monitors their behavior:
| Age | Average Monthly Losses | Preferences |
|---|---|---|
| 18–23 | €48 | Sports betting — 29% of spending |
| 24+ | €148 (previously €160) | Sports betting — 22% of spending |
A noticeable drop in “extreme losses” was also observed:
- Before October 2024: 4% of accounts lost more than €1,000 per month
- After October 2024: 1.2% of such accounts
New Measures and Their Impact
Since October 2024, players have been allowed to create multiple accounts. This change led to a surge in new registrations in the final quarter of the year.
This flexibility allowed players to better manage their behavior by distributing activity across different platforms.
Legal and Illegal Operators
Although 91% of players use legal operators, 50% of all gambling spending by Dutch citizens goes to illegal platforms.
This raises concerns for the regulator and may lead to additional restrictions or inspections.