Are Age Verification Controls Being Properly Enforced By Dutch iGaming Operators?

For those in the gambling industry, age verification is one of the key areas that need to be addressed. Many countries in Europe have strict minimum age limits on gambling products which are enforced by the government and local gambling regulatory bodies.

In the Netherlands, players must be at least 18 years of age to gamble, just like in the UK. So, are minors still able to access gambling products in The Netherlands? AgeChecked investigates this topic and looks at solutions for operators in this country below.

What Do The Statistics Say?

Whilst there is a minimum age limit on players who gamble in the Netherlands, the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has recently warned that this is not being properly enforced. According to their report, those aged 16-17 most commonly enjoy scratch card games and land-based slots without too much hassle. In fact, only 5% of those surveyed in this age group had reported being refused the sale of a scratch card. Interestingly, for slot machines, less than 1% had been refused.

These latest statistics indicate that more action needs to be taken in the Dutch gambling market. It is clear that operators are not adhering to the law and the age limit is not being taken into consideration. With more than 10% of 16-17 year olds surveyed having admitted to gambling in the past year, the KSA require further action to be taken.

Dutch COVID-19 Measures

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is not exactly known for being soft on regulators so it is interesting that so many minors have been able to buy these products or receive them from their parents. The KSA recently reported that there has been an increase in the level of activities of illegal online gambling operators in the Netherlands. Instead of ignoring this, they put measures in place right away.

For now, gambling online in the Netherlands is prohibited in order to reduce the risk of operators taking advantage of COVID-19. Operators face a fine that is at least 50,000 euros more than normal which is something that they would definitely want to avoid. With measures like this already in place, Dutch operators should note that the KSA should not be ignored.

So, how can operators stay in line with the KSA and avoid selling their products to minors?

AgeChecked Age Verification

When online gambling is not prohibited in the Netherlands, it is likely that the KSA will be enforcing their strict laws once again. For this reason, operators must consider their current age verification checks and try to do better.

AgeChecked is a leading online age verification provider and is used by many businesses in the iGaming industry. Operators in the Netherlands should consider how AgeChecked could benefit their business and help them fall in line with the KSA.

If you are interested in a fully compliant solution, get in touch with AgeChecked today. A member of our team will be happy to help.