The Dutch Government is considering making maximum deposit limits mandatory for online casino players.

According to the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) – the trade association and representative body of online gambling providers – such tightening measures might already be introduced as soon as the end of 2023.

According to Legaalnederlandscasino.nl, NOGA’s managing director Peter-Paul de Goeij thinks the Netherlands will follow the example of Belgium when it comes to mandatory deposit limits. In Belgium, players can deposit up to €200 per week per gambling website.

Although Belgian players can ask for their deposit limit to be raised, they need to prove that they have sufficient financial resources.

Maximum limit

Mr de Goeij thinks that the Dutch Government will propose draft legislation for a maximum deposit limit when Minister for Legal Protection Franc Weerwind has finished another law proposal banning untargeted advertisement by

He said: “This will likely happen by spring, and then I think it is the intention of the ministry to offer this to the market for consultation. And then in the autumn this must be completed and it will become law. That’s the plan.”

The exact height of the maximum deposit limit and whether it will be a weekly or monthly amount has yet to be researched and decided upon.

Liberalisation

The Netherlands liberalised the online gambling market in 2021. That year, the Remote Gambling Act (“Wet Kansspelen op Afstand”) came into force on October 1st. This allowed Dutch gamblers to legally play casino games and bet on sports at licenced providers.

At the moment, 24 providers have already been granted an operating licence by the Dutch Gambling Authority.

According to the regulatory body, there are more than 536,000 active player accounts at Dutch gambling sites. The total amount of money that was wagered by these accounts has likely surpassed the 1 billion euro mark in 2022.

Political discussions

The massive popularity of online gambling has surprised Dutch lawmakers. MPs from different political parties across the political aisle have since called for more restrictions to protect vulnerable people.

The large amount of advertising for online casinos and sportsbooks on TV, the internet and public spaces has especially disconcerted lawmakers.

Among the measures already introduced by Dutch lawmakers is a ban of gambling commercials and advertisements featuring role models such as football players and other celebrities.

According to Minister Weerwind, young people in particular are showing an increased interest in online gambling, making it a necessity to protect what he sees as a “vulnerable group”.

Statistics by the Dutch Gambling Authority show that around 20 percent of all active player accounts are registered by young adults between the age of 18 and 23. It is estimated that the average Dutch online gambler loses around €153 per month.