The Netherlands Playing Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, Ksa) has initiated a more in-depth take a look at behavioural practices utilized by on-line playing platforms. This follows a research commissioned from Behavioural Insights, which examined how suppliers affect participant exercise.
The investigation highlighted that playing corporations, very like e-commerce platforms, depend on behavioural strategies to information buyer choices. In some circumstances, these methods assist accountable play by providing options resembling exercise suggestions or the power to pause playing. Nevertheless, the research additionally revealed problematic approaches. For instance, new gamers are sometimes offered with the choice to stake giant quantities with ease—an strategy thought of particularly dangerous to people susceptible to dependancy.
In line with the Ksa, the findings have make clear the strategies operators make use of to maintain participant engagement. These insights at the moment are set to underpin regulatory motion geared toward strengthening the responsibility of care obligations throughout the sector.
Ksa Chairman Responds to Findings
KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen acknowledged that industrial platforms routinely observe and affect consumer behaviour, however emphasised the regulator’s rising consciousness of how these instruments are utilized in playing. He said: “On the Ksa, we perceive that on-line suppliers, like different industrial corporations, monitor what customers do on their platforms and the way they will affect that to their benefit. Due to this analysis, we’ve a greater understanding of how they do that and can even present extra steerage on adverse affect and issues we not wish to see.”
Following this, the regulator confirmed it might launch its personal inquiry into adverse behavioural administration. This follow-up will assess whether or not present practices undermine the responsibility of care required underneath Dutch playing legislation and will result in stricter guidelines to curb dangerous affect.
Current Obligation of Care Measures
The behavioural analysis builds on earlier steps taken by the Ksa to tighten accountable playing safeguards. Earlier in September, the regulator printed findings from its evaluation of threat analyses carried out by on-line licensees. That evaluation concluded the system was not working successfully, as suppliers used various strategies that produced inconsistent outcomes. The dearth of uniformity made it tough to check outcomes and probably left gamers much less protected than meant. The Ksa has since been in talks with the Ministry of Justice and Safety about making a extra coherent framework.
On September 16, the authority additionally issued new steerage for brick-and-mortar gaming arcades and casinos, geared toward enhancing compliance with responsibility of care requirements. Web site visits had revealed that whereas operators had been dedicated in precept, implementation usually fell brief. To deal with this, the Ksa distributed sensible sources together with a poster, explanatory supplies, and a tenet on Cruks—the nationwide exclusion register. Groothuizen famous on the time that land-based operators face distinctive challenges in monitoring participant behaviour in comparison with their on-line counterparts, and stated the regulator’s new instruments ought to assist strengthen safety.
Subsequent Steps for the Regulator
Whereas the Ksa has not but launched an in depth breakdown of Behavioural Insights’ research, the authority intends to make use of its conclusions to supply clearer steerage to operators and probably replace responsibility of care obligations. The regulator’s concern is that practices like simplifying high-stake betting for learners might gasoline problematic playing patterns, notably amongst these most in danger.
This newest initiative follows different latest actions, such because the crackdown earlier in 2025 on the usage of “autoplay” options, which the Ksa judged to encourage unhealthy play. Though no new licensing guidelines have been launched to date, the regulator has made clear that stricter obligations stay on the desk.
By combining new behavioural analysis with its ongoing evaluations, the Ksa is signalling that each on-line and land-based operators should step up efforts to guard gamers. Future regulatory measures are anticipated to extra clearly delineate acceptable types of affect from these thought of dangerous, as a part of a broader framework to strengthen playing safeguards within the Netherlands.
Supply:
Gedragsbeïnvloeding kansspelaanbieders, kansspelautoriteit.nl, September 23, 2025
