The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has concluded an extensive investigation into underage participation in the legal online gambling market. The findings indicate that gambling by minors is “only possible by way of exception” within the regulated sector, affirming the effectiveness of current age-verification protocols across the Netherlands.
The study was initiated following concerns regarding the accessibility of digital betting platforms to those under 18. However, the data suggests that the high barriers to entry, specifically the integration of the iDIN identification system, have been successful in insulating the legal market from youth participation.
Technical Barriers and Identity Verification
The KSA’s research highlights that the mandatory use of iDIN, which links a player’s account to their verified bank identity, serves as a formidable gatekeeper. For a minor to successfully register and wager on a licensed site, they would typically need to misappropriate the physical bank token, login credentials, and personal identification of an adult.
The regulator noted that while no system is entirely infallible, the instances of such fraudulent circumvention are statistically rare. This successful containment of the youth market is a core pillar of the Dutch Gambling Authority’s 2026 player protection agenda, which prioritises the isolation of vulnerable groups from gambling-related harms.
AML Compliance and Operator Responsibility
The KSA’s focus on identity verification extends beyond age control into the realms of financial integrity. Strict “Know Your Customer” (KYC) requirements ensure that operators are not only verifying the age of their users but also the source of their funds.
The regulator has historically taken a firm stance against operators who fail to maintain these standards. A prominent example of this rigorous oversight was seen in the Unibet AML CFT binding instruction, where the authority mandated specific improvements to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism protocols. Such enforcement actions ensure that licensed operators remain vigilant in monitoring all account activities, which inherently aids in detecting accounts that may be used by third parties, including minors.
The Threat of the Illegal Market in Netherlands
While the legal market remains secure, the KSA expressed continued concern regarding the illegal “black market”. Unlicensed offshore operators often bypass ID checks entirely, providing a dangerous avenue for underage individuals to gamble without any social safeguards or oversight. Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Board of the Dutch Gaming Authority said,
KSA is deeply concerned about minors gambling. Fortunately, it appears that this hardly ever occurs among licensed providers, but we do have clear indications that it is happening nonetheless.
The KSA’s report emphasised that the “rare” nature of underage gambling only applies to the 27 licensed providers currently operating in the Netherlands. Consequently, the regulator’s 2026 strategy will continue to focus on an “anti-illegal gambling drive” to prevent minors from being lured to platforms that do not adhere to Dutch law.
Future Oversight: Enhancing the CRUKS System
Moving forward, the KSA intends to further strengthen the Central Register for Exclusion of Gambling (CRUKS). By ensuring that identity data is seamlessly synchronised between banks, operators, and the national registry, the regulator aims to make the “exceptions” discovered in this study even less frequent.
For the Dutch gaming industry, these findings serve as a validation of the current digital identity framework, though the KSA maintains that “constant alertness” from operators remains mandatory to uphold the integrity of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA).