The Netherlands gaming authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has reported a notable increase in the number of online gambling accounts during the first half of 2026, reaching 1.48 million. However, the regulator has warned that this growth may be partly due to players opening multiple accounts to bypass monthly deposit limits.
Deposit Limits and Regulatory Impact
Deposit limits were introduced in the Netherlands in October 2024, capping monthly deposits at €350 for adults and €150 for young adults aged 18-23, unless higher limits are specifically requested by players. The KSA’s latest reports link the rising number of accounts to these protections, noting that some users might be circumventing the rules by creating multiple accounts across different operators.
Market Changes and Operator Response
Despite a decline in the number of licensed online gambling providers in 2025 and a decrease in overall gross gaming revenue (GSR), the number of active accounts continued to grow into 2026. The KSA attributed part of this activity to the men’s FIFA World Cup, but also raised concerns about regulatory evasion. The regulator’s data shows that although 1.48 million accounts were in use, the number of occasional gamblers remained steady at around 490,000 per month, suggesting that individual players may be operating several accounts.
Why This Matters for the Industry
The KSA’s findings highlight the challenges operators and affiliates face in maintaining regulatory compliance while adapting to stricter player protection measures. Operators must ensure they have robust monitoring systems to detect and prevent the creation of multiple accounts by single users. Affiliates need to be aware of the evolving compliance landscape, as increased regulatory scrutiny could affect marketing practices and partnerships. Regulators, meanwhile, will likely consider additional measures to strengthen deposit limit enforcement and address potential loopholes.
Market Performance and Player Trends
GSR for H1 2026 reached €670 million, with casinos accounting for 73% and sports betting 24% of the total. The average monthly player loss rose to €137. While the number of people at high risk of gambling harm remained stable, more players were classified as low risk, and fewer as moderate risk. Channelisation rates, indicating play with licensed providers, remained strong at approximately 94% for occasional gamblers.
Key takeaways
- The number of Dutch online gambling accounts increased to 1.48 million in H1 2026.
- KSA warns that players may be opening multiple accounts to bypass deposit limits.
- Operator numbers and overall GSR declined in 2025, but account growth continued.
- Regulatory scrutiny is likely to intensify around deposit limit enforcement and player protection.
Update (30.10.2026)
In the first half of 2026, gross gaming revenue (GGR) from legal operators reached €670 million, marking a 12% increase compared to the previous year. There were 31 licensed operators, with 28 actively offering products, and the top three operators generated between 30% and 40% of total GGR. The number of players at legal operators grew to 820,000 (a 2% year-on-year rise), with 563,000 new accounts opened. Notably, 22% of all accounts belonged to players aged 18–23. The average monthly loss per account increased by 4% to €75. While the legal market accounted for 94–97% of players, it represented only 59% of GGR—a 10 percentage point increase year-on-year. The regulator explained that this gap is due to much higher average losses among players at illegal operators.