Dutch Regulator Calls on Parents to Warn Kids About Gambling Risks

The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has launched a pair of new campaigns aimed at curbing youth gambling and urging parents to talk to their children about betting risks.

The first campaign, OpenOverGokken (Open About Gambling), specifically targets parents of teenagers and young adults aged 16 to 25. The second promotes Gokstop, the public face of the Netherlands’ national gambling self-exclusion system.

Both campaigns will launch in early November and aim to make conversations about gambling less difficult.

Parents Encouraged to Discuss Gambling Earlier

The OpenOverGokken campaign addresses how young people frequently encounter gambling content across social media, online videos, advertising, and video games.

According to the KSA, parents are often unaware of their children’s exposure to gambling—or feel ill-equipped to discuss the risks with them.

To spark conversations, the campaign features young people discussing how comfortably their parents address topics like sex and personal safety, asking why gambling isn’t treated with the same open dialogue.

Developed by creative agency Noise, the initiative will run across online video, social media platforms, and display advertising, according to Dutch marketing publication MarketingTribune.

Self-Exclusion Campaign Targets Young Adults at Risk

The KSA’s second campaign focuses on individuals already experiencing gambling harm or facing elevated risk.

Centered around the slogan “Every moment is a Gokstop moment,” the initiative encourages young adults to consider self-exclusion proactively rather than waiting for gambling to trigger a personal crisis. It also targets friends and family members, encouraging them to help loved ones take action.

Gokstop connects users directly to Cruks, the Netherlands’ central exclusion register. Cruks allows players to exclude themselves from all licensed online gambling sites and land-based gaming venues nationwide for periods ranging from six months to permanent bans.

Netherlands’ Gambling Market Contracts in 2025

The new campaigns follow data released by the KSA last week that showed the Dutch gambling market shrunk 9% year-on-year in 2025.

The regulator reported gross gaming revenue for the entire regulated market of €4.1 billion ($4.6 billion) for the 12 months to December 31, 2025, down from €4.5 billion ($5 billion) in 2024.

New deposit limits were a factor in the decline, the KSA said. It pointed to the rules introduced in October 2024 that require players to provide information showing they can afford to spend more than €700 ($785) per month. The threshold is reduced to €300 ($336) for customers younger than 24.

The report also highlighted growing concerns around the size of the Netherlands’ offshore gambling market. The KSA said around half of total online gambling revenue was generated in the country by unlicensed operators.