Over 100,000 people in the Netherlands have signed up for a voluntary gambling ban.
Dutch newspaper Trouw reported the six-figure milestone was hit last week according to data from the gambling authority’s exclusion register Cruks.
Cruks, a gambling self-exclusion system and database in the Netherlands, was set up in 2021. In order to register, players must enter their public service number (BSN), surname and date of birth.
If they went to sign up with online casinos in the Netherlands for the first time, or access a land-based casino, they enter their BSN which leads to the generation of a Cruks code and the player won’t be permitted to register or enter.
Around 300 to 500 people are signing up every week, half of them under the age of 32 and most opt for a minimum ban of six months.
A spokesman for the gambling authority told the newspaper: “Many people remain registered even after the initial six-month cooling-off period. We want to prevent impulsive decisions.”
What Changes Are The Netherlands Making To Gambling?
Earlier this month, we reported black market gambling is on the rise in the Netherlands following the introduction of strict deposit limits.
Deposit limits are set at €300 a month for players aged between 18 and 24 and €700 for players aged over 24.
In the four months since the measure was enforced, players depositing more than their limit fell from 9.7% to 3.8% overall and from 12% to 2.8% for young adults.
The average loss per player account has dropped from €117 to €83 and the gross gaming revenue (GGR) of licensed operators has fallen from 10% also.
It comes after the government introduced the Responsible Gaming Policy and Gambling Limits Regulation in the country to promote safer gambling habits.
A new gambling bill is expected in the Netherlands by the end of 2025 that could increase the age limit for online slot games to 21.
Online casinos are unable to market their brands with advertisements on television, radio or in public spaces whether it be indoors or outdoors.
Online marking is limited with brands only allowed to promote their business to consumers aged 24 or older – and using influencers or celebrities to do so is banned.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
