Lead brief
The Dutch regulator (KSA) has urged EU authorities to coordinate action against unlicensed offshore gambling, highlighting the growing threat to regulated markets and player protection across Europe. The call reflects mounting regulatory pressure and cross-border enforcement challenges in the online gambling sector.
Coverage frame
This piece sits inside the wider 31Casino news desk, where single developments are read against regulation, market structure, and reader relevance.
Primary source base
- ▸The Netherlands’ gambling regulator (KSA) has urged European authorities to jointly address illegal offshore gambling operations.
- ▸The move follows ongoing challenges with unlicensed operators targeting Dutch players.
- ▸Regulated European markets face increasing threats to consumer protection and industry integrity from illicit sites.
- ▸Cross-border enforcement remains a central challenge due to differing regulations and limited cooperation.
What Happened
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ gambling authority, has publicly called for increased cooperation among European regulators to more effectively combat illegal online gambling. René Jansen, KSA’s Chairman, delivered the call to action this week, citing the cross-border nature of online gambling and the sophistication of offshore operators targeting regulated EU markets.
In recent months, the KSA has intensified domestic enforcement to block unlicensed platforms and restrict access for Dutch consumers. Despite these efforts, the regulator warns that isolated national actions are insufficient, as many offshore operators continue to circumvent local restrictions using international domains, payment processing workarounds, and marketing tactics aimed at EU citizens.
Why It Matters
The KSA’s appeal for a pan-European offensive against illegal gambling draws urgent attention to a persistent grey market problem: unlicensed operators remain accessible to EU consumers despite local regulatory reforms and enforcement drives.
Unlicensed providers threaten the integrity of regulated markets by failing to adhere to strict player protection, anti-money laundering, and responsible gambling standards. EU countries that, like the Netherlands, have moved to legalize and closely supervise online gambling now face the challenge of maintaining these public policy goals when players can easily access illegal alternatives.
Over 1,000 Dutch websites — this is the estimated number of unlicensed gambling domains blocked or investigated by the KSA since the implementation of the Remote Gambling Act in October 2021.
Consumer protection is a particularly acute concern. Players engaging with illegal operators lack access to dispute resolution, responsible gambling tools, and are often exposed to higher risks of fraud or non-payment of winnings. The lack of harmonization in enforcement undermines efforts by compliant, licensed operators and weakens public confidence in regulated gambling.
The economic implications are significant. Tax revenue, estimated at hundreds of millions of euros across regulated markets, is siphoned away from public coffers when players turn to unlicensed sites. This also distorts fair competition, with operators outside the regulatory perimeter gaining an advantage through lower compliance costs and illicit advertising.
Industry Context
The Netherlands’ experience is emblematic of broader trends across the European online gambling sector since regulation opened in several major markets, including Germany, Sweden, and Spain. While national regulatory regimes like the Netherlands gambling regulation have driven up channelization rates (i.e., moving players to regulated sites), the continued visibility of offshore offerings persists as a central regulatory concern.
In 2023, several European regulators—including those from France and Denmark—signaled support for closer cross-border information-sharing to disrupt illegal operations. However, the lack of an EU-wide regulatory framework or central body for online gambling complicates joint action. The European Commission previously retreated from direct involvement in gambling policy, instead deferring to national governments.
Meanwhile, enforcement methods vary widely: some regulators focus on ISP or payment blocking, while others prioritize direct action against unlicensed affiliates or increased penalties. Offshore operators, for their part, are increasingly sophisticated in targeting lucrative EU markets, often seeking business models designed to evade detection and oversight.
Regulatory Background
The Netherlands regulated its online gambling sector with the passing of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) in April 2021, officially opening its market in October 2021. Since then, KSA has maintained a public commitment to channel Dutch consumers to licensed providers, leveraging fines, website blocking, and payment bans as deterrents against unlicensed play.
However, the regulatory tools available to national authorities have notable limitations. Territorial licensing regimes face inherent jurisdictional gaps when operators or payment intermediaries are based outside the EU or in loosely regulated jurisdictions.
A coordinated approach addressing these cross-border enforcement challenges was first discussed between European regulators in the early 2010s but has seen little progress. The KSA’s new push for renewed dialogue and operational coordination therefore marks a potential shift in enforcement philosophy.
What Happens Next
The KSA is expected to continue engaging its European counterparts to establish or reinvigorate joint enforcement frameworks against offshore gambling. While no formal EU-level policy shift has been announced, the growing consensus around the risks of illegal gambling may spur collective action ranging from joint investigations to harmonized sanctions or coordinated ISP blocking efforts. The search for effective, multinational solutions to the pervasive issue of unlicensed gambling in Europe is likely to remain a top regulatory priority in the coming years.
Sources
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