Dutch Gambling Revenue Dips Despite Rise in Players After Deposit Caps Kick In

According to KSA’s newly published spring report, the gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the full year hit €1.47 billion, which technically shows a modest 6% year-on-year increase. But the devil is in the details.

The second half of 2024 told a different story: GGR fell to €697 million, a 10% drop compared to the first six months of the year. That decline lines up closely with new player safety rules introduced in October—rules that put hard caps on how much users can deposit each month.

New Rules, New Results

Under the latest KSA guidelines, deposit limits are now based on a player’s net deposits within a calendar month. If a player deposits more than €700, operators are obligated to cut off any additional deposits for the remainder of that month.
The rules are even stricter for younger players. Anyone aged 18 to 25 is limited to €300 per month, unless they go through a formal process to prove they have a stable, higher income.

KSA acknowledged that these regulations likely played a role in the revenue dip, along with a revenue spike earlier in the year during the UEFA European Football Championship in June 2024.

More Players, Less Spending

Interestingly, the drop in revenue comes despite growth in player activity. The number of active gambling accounts rose from 1.1 million to 1.19 million, with about 788,000 individual players engaging with licensed online operators. That’s roughly 5.4% of the Dutch adult population, highlighting that interest in online gambling remains strong—even if individual spending is more restricted.

What This Means?

While revenue is cooling, KSA sees the shift as a positive sign of more responsible play across the Dutch market. With player protection now front and center, the focus appears to be on long-term sustainability rather than short-term profits.