There are growing calls in The Netherlands for the minimum age requirement for legal gambling to be increased after a recent study revealed a growing debt crisis in young people aged between 18 and 24.
Buy Now Pay Later products, a form of short-term financing that allows you to make purchases immediately and pay for them in smaller amounts over time at a set interest rate, are among the reasons for the sharp increase, say experts.
One in five young people now in debt, report shows
Local officials in Enschede say youth debt has become a growing crisis, with municipal data showing one in five young residents is currently in debt. The city recorded more than 12,000 reports of problematic debt in 2025, including nearly 1,000 cases involving residents at risk of eviction or utility shutoffs.
Councillor Meryam Sümer said easy access to online gambling services is partly to blame for the situation, contributing to worsening financial problems among young people. The municipality said it intervened in roughly 4,000 debt cases, a higher engagement rate than the national average.
She added: “Many youngsters do not yet have the financial awareness to manage multiple subscriptions, instalment purchases and gambling offers appearing on social media and within mobile games.”
Gambling advertisements were also raised as a problematic issue facing the country. That’s despite The Netherlands enforcing strict gambling advertising rules since 2013 and banning gambling ads in public spaces in 2022. The regulations also prohibit ads targeting people younger than 24, but a recent study found 31 of 277 Meta ads, or 11.2%, targeted users ages 18 to 23.
“The key is reducing temptation,” she said, calling for stricter regulations to protect young people from exposure that could lead to gambling addiction or debt.
Changes could lead to explosion in illegal gambling, agency warns
Chairman of the Gambling Authority of the Netherlands Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), Michel Groothuizen, said proposals to raise the Netherlands’ legal online gambling age would not fully prevent young people from accessing betting platforms, warning that underage users could still turn to illegal sites. In a blog published February 18, he said stricter age rules risk pushing younger gamblers away from regulated operators that must follow consumer protection rules.
The comments came after Dutch State Secretary Teun Struycken outlined plans for broader gambling reforms in a letter to parliament. The proposals include raising the legal gambling age to 21 and expanding enforcement powers against illegal online operators following a government review that found current responsible gambling measures were falling short.
Groothuizen backed plans to strengthen the powers of the KSA, particularly efforts to block illegal gambling websites and coordinate enforcement at the European level. He said the regulator hopes to gain faster authority to remove illegal sites from the market.
The KSA is also working with banks and payment processors to prevent transactions linked to illegal gambling operators, aiming to disrupt the financial networks supporting the black market. Groothuizen also supported industry-wide deposit limits as a way to reduce gambling-related harm.
Still, he warned that enforcing universal deposit caps across multiple operators could prove administratively difficult. Deposit limits introduced by licensed operators in October 2024 have already reduced average player losses from €117 to €83, while legal operators’ gaming revenue fell about 10%, according to KSA data released in February.
Strict advertising rules in place for upcoming World Cup, agency reminds operators
Meanwhile, the KSA warned licensed operators to follow strict advertising and betting rules during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying it will increase oversight throughout the tournament. The agency told operators that violations of advertising or betting regulations could result in immediate enforcement action.
The regulator said untargeted gambling advertising remains banned in the Netherlands, while restrictions on sports sponsorships also remain in place. The KSA said major sporting events such as the World Cup create a higher risk for advertising violations and raised concerns about protecting vulnerable groups, including young adults.
The KSA also reminded operators that some football wagers are prohibited in the Netherlands, including bets on yellow cards or first corners. The regulator said those markets carry greater integrity and match-fixing risks. The warning follows recent enforcement actions against Holland Casino Online and Vbet over illegal bets tied to own goals.
The regulator said it also will monitor illegal gambling advertisements and unlicensed operators during the tournament. In April, the KSA reported filing more than 4,600 complaints with Meta over illegal gambling ads on Facebook and Instagram that directed Dutch users to unlicensed betting sites. The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
