With 10+ years in tech, crypto, gaming, and finance, Raz has written across a multitude of platforms, covering both crypto and gambling news. He specializes in content on iGaming, sports betting, and crypto trends, particularly...
Read Full BioKansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gaming authority, has published a report highlighting the positive effects of its responsible gaming policy.
After a year of fine-tuning, the new-look policy was introduced late last year.. In early January 2024, the KSA started consultations regarding the update, asking stakeholders to provide opinions on the proposed policy changes.
Key Adjustments Introduced by the KSA in 2024
Six months later, it made a significant step forward with an amended policy that detailed a range of adjustments and clarifications, only to roll out the final version in October.
The report, published on April 14, claims that the measures to protect players have already shown positive effects. The regulator has reported a significant drop in cases where players have lost considerable amounts of money, while the percentage of extreme losses has also seen a sharp decline.
Furthermore, the KSA noted that the figures suggest that most Dutch players play with legal providers. Despite this, the regulator suggests that the amount of money wagered has also increased.
Noteworthy Findings From the KSA Responsible Gambling Report
The KSA reported a gross gaming result (GSR) for 2024 of 1.47 billion EUR, a 6% increase from the previous year’s figure of 1.39 billion EUR.
GSR dropped 10% in H2 2024 compared to H1, although the gaming authority believes this may have been due to the uptick in H1 wagering due to the European Football Championships, which took place in June 2024.
The report lists several noteworthy findings. Players aged 18 to 23 comprise 9% of the adult population and lost 11% of the Dutch GSR in H2 2024.
However, they also spend less on average, with players over 24 spending 148 EUR per month compared to young adults’ 48 EUR per month.
1.19 million accounts engaged in online gaming in the last six months, an increase from 1.1 million in the six months prior. The number of new accounts also rose in the fourth quarter.
The KSA also recorded a drop in losses as the year progressed. The average loss in the first half of 2024 was 160 EUR, while H2 dropped to 148 EUR.
A decline in extreme losses was also noticed. Before introducing the new responsible gaming policy, 4% of accounts lost over 1,000 EUR per month. After the October policy update, the figure dropped to 1.2%.
The report noted that 91% of all online gamblers go to legal providers to play games. Still, the amount of money spent in illegal markets increased considerably, representing 50% of all the funds Dutch people spent on games of chance.
