The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has unveiled research showing that a significant proportion of gambling accounts in the Netherlands are opened by individuals on their 18th birthday. This finding, presented in three detailed studies, highlights a growing trend of gambling becoming a normalized activity among minors and young adults. Conducted in May 2025, the research revealed that 41% of gambling accounts opened by young adults aged 18-24 were registered by those who had just turned 18. This trend is critical from a regulatory standpoint as it suggests early exposure and societal acceptance of gambling well before the legal gambling age.
The investigation, covering account registrations between May 1 and May 7, 2025, identified 15,761 newly funded accounts, of which a third were attributed to young adults. Notably, 11% of these accounts were opened on the individual’s 18th birthday, while 38% were initiated within a month. Contrary to common belief, the majority of these accounts, 72%, began with casino games rather than sports betting, which only accounted for 11%. Young adults were found to gamble on average four days per month, with their daily betting stakes significantly lower than those of older adults, suggesting a cautious entry into gambling activities.
Further insights were drawn from a study commissioned by ZonMw and conducted by Youngworks, which used qualitative methods to examine the gambling experiences of 50 individuals aged 16 to 21. The findings revealed that initial contact with gambling often occurred between ages 8 and 12 through family activities like scratchcards and informal betting games. As these minors aged, gambling activities became more independent and social, involving friends and group betting activities. This early social exposure contributes to the normalization of gambling behaviors.
To bypass age restrictions, many minors reportedly share online gambling accounts with older friends or family, using mobile payment apps like Tikkie to pool money. Popular platforms among this demographic include TOTO, Bet365, BetCity, and Unibet. With significant exposure to gambling advertisements on youth-focused media such as TikTok and sports broadcasts, the Dutch government has proposed a near-total ban on online gambling advertising to mitigate these influences. Announced in June, the measures aim to curb the rising number of young people engaging in online gambling.
The second study, surveying 29,724 students aged 15 to 24 from MBO (a form of post-secondary education), found that about a third had gambled in the past year. Minors primarily engaged with physical gambling products, while adults favored a mix of casino games, scratchcards, and sports betting. A concerning aspect is that approximately 2% of the participants displayed signs of gambling-related harm, which is more prevalent among those engaged in online and multi-product gambling.
Amidst these findings, Meryam Sümer, a local politician from the Christian Democratic Party, has advocated for raising the legal gambling age from 18 to 24. This proposal stems from concerns over youth debt, with one in five young individuals in Enschede reportedly in financial trouble. Sümer argues that increasing the minimum age could reduce exposure to gambling and prevent financial harm.
However, the proposal is not without controversy. The KSA’s chairman has publicly warned that such a measure could drive young people towards unregulated gambling markets. He emphasized that despite legal age restrictions, the illegal market remains easily accessible, which could negate the benefits of stricter age regulations.
Looking forward, the debate on adjusting the legal gambling age remains ongoing, with potential implications for both regulated operators and young consumers. The proposed advertising ban is expected to undergo further scrutiny, while enforcement measures and potential adjustments to age regulations may shape the future landscape of the Dutch gambling market.
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