Dutch Regulator and Google Develop EU Gambling Operator Whitelist

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Altay Celikkaya

Content Manager

Updated: 16/10/26

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), is working with Google to develop an EU-wide whitelist of licensed gambling operators, aiming to reduce the visibility of illegal gambling services. Announced on 14 October 2026, the initiative follows earlier discussions this year between European gambling regulators, Google, and Meta.

The proposed system would help Google identify authorised operators and restrict advertising from unlicensed providers. However, the whitelist remains under development, and no implementation date has been announced.

Dutch gambling regulator KSA works with Google on an EU-wide whitelist to tackle illegal gambling.

Technology & Innovation

Key Takeaways From the KSA's Google Partnership

The KSA and Google are developing a shared whitelist of licensed gambling operators across the EU.
European regulators began discussions with Google and Meta in Dublin earlier this year.
The proposed system aims to make illegal gambling services less visible online.
The KSA prefers voluntary cooperation but may pursue legal action if platforms fail to respond.
No launch date or technical requirements have been confirmed.

Google and European Regulators Work on Shared Whitelist

According to KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen’s official statement, a joint task force is developing a list of authorised gambling operators across European markets. Google could use the information to distinguish licensed businesses from unauthorised providers and restrict non-compliant advertising.

The initiative represents a further step beyond Google’s existing gambling advertising certification requirements, which already impose eligibility and compliance checks on advertisers. However, licensing conditions differ between EU member states, making accurate operator verification an important part of the proposed system.

KSA Keeps Legal Action Against Tech Platforms on the Table

The regulator is pursuing cooperation alongside its existing enforcement activities.

Groothuizen said:

A fine is a means, not an end.

The KSA believes voluntary agreements could deliver faster results than prolonged litigation against major technology companies. Nevertheless, legal action remains possible if cooperation proves ineffective.

The approach follows earlier concerns about illegal gambling advertisements reported to Meta and ongoing legal proceedings brought against Meta by Dutch trade association VNLOK.

What Could the Whitelist Mean for iGaming Operators?

For licensed gambling businesses, a shared verification system could help distinguish compliant advertising from promotions by unauthorised competitors. Affiliates and advertising technology providers may also face closer scrutiny over the operators they promote.

The KSA estimates that approximately 90% of Dutch online gamblers use licensed providers exclusively. However, illegal gambling still accounts for roughly half of gambling expenditure. The whitelist remains a proposed enforcement tool rather than an operational EU-wide system.

Its effectiveness will depend on cooperation between regulators and technology platforms, along with accurate licensing data across jurisdictions.