The Dutch KSA has updated its guidelines for operators to check and assess the affordability of different population segments. The changes follow inspection results that revealed that many brands' player control mechanisms are not functioning effectively.
The Authority’s document explains in detail how gambling platforms should examine users' financial capacity before increasing deposit limits. The introduced norms align with responsible gaming principles.
Reasons for Tighter Controls and Inspection Results
The new requirements resolve the controversial interpretations of the recommendations published in February 2025. Some companies took the previous version of the document too broadly, considering even 1-time deposits when agreeing to increased limits. According to the regulator, this approach is inconsistent with responsible practices.
KSA inspections covered 20 licensed operators. The audits revealed multiple common violations in the existing control mechanisms.
To address these deficiencies, the Authority took the following measures:
- conducted 10 interviews with permit holders to improve the current situation;
- sent 3 formal warnings through official communication channels;
- issued a binding instruction, and more is coming.
Major Standards of Player Income Assessment
In the updated document, the KSA clearly delineated appropriate and unacceptable methods for estimating users' financial capabilities. The basic principle is that only regular, verified income should be taken into account when determining limits.
Gambling platforms are prohibited from measuring a player’s status by the following:
- 1-time gifts;
- equity shares;
- borrowed funds;
- profit from partners;
- business assets, etc.
Appropriate practices include:
- setting deposit caps based on the last few payslips or the average salary for a specified period;
- using a lower percentage of net earnings (<30%), which customers with low gains can spend on entertainment;
- automatically refusing to increase limits above €300 per month for young website visitors, even if they declare high checks;
- allowing only 1 deposit above the established maximum until a thorough due diligence is completed;
- storing documents proving the financial situation in the client’s file for subsequent audits.
It is also important to clarify the line between younger and older gamblers. The 1st group is allowed to top up their accounts by €300 per month, while for those aged 24+, the figure reaches €700.
The following methods are prohibited:
- refusing to verify income and trusting the player’s statements solely;
- accepting papers and pieces of evidence that cannot be clearly verified;
- taking into account 1-time receipts instead of an average regular payslip;
- listing savings, social benefits, gifts, loans, etc. in solvency assessments;
- lifting restrictions less than 30 days after the deposit caps come into effect.
Current Situation in the Dutch Gaming Market
The innovations are being implemented in the context of:
- broad tax changes;
- tightened oversight of the industry;
- increased risk of users switching to illicit platforms.
Statistics for last year show that the introduced restrictions helped decrease customer losses on licensed operators' portals. Nevertheless, industry experts warn that further harshing of rules could accelerate the outflow of users to unregulated offshore projects.
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