A youth debt crisis in Enschede has sparked renewed calls for stricter gambling and credit regulations. Local councillor Meryam Sümer is urging national lawmakers to raise the minimum legal age for online gambling from 18 to 24.
As a councillor for the Christian Democratic Appeal and a welfare worker, Sümer said the growing accessibility to online casinos and buy-now-pay-later services is contributing to serious financial problems among young adults.
According to recent figures, one in five young people in Enschede is currently in debt. In 2025 alone, the city registered 12,145 reports involving problematic debt. Of those cases, 960 involved residents facing potential eviction or the disconnection of essential services such as gas, electricity, or water.
The municipality reported that it had direct contact with around 4,000 residents struggling financially, approximately one-third of all reported cases, significantly above the national average engagement rate of roughly 20%.
Social Media and Mobile Games Under Scrutiny
Sümer argued that young people are increasingly vulnerable to financial harm due to the aggressive promotion of gambling products and easy-credit services online.
“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,” she said.
She also warned that the combination of targeted advertising, digital payment systems, and gambling accessibility is creating serious problems within the community.
The councillor also criticised the continued visibility of gambling advertisements despite existing Dutch restrictions. The Netherlands introduced stricter gambling advertising controls through the Decree on Gambling Recruitment, Advertising and Addiction Prevention, including a ban on gambling advertising in public spaces in 2022.
Current rules also prohibit advertising aimed at people under the age of 24. However, a recent study found that 31 out of 277 gambling advertisements displayed on Meta platforms targeted audiences that included individuals aged 18 to 23.
Push to Raise Gambling Age to 24
In response, Sümer is advocating for a nationwide increase in the legal age for online gambling participation to 24.
While acknowledging that a full ban on online gambling or BNPL products is politically unrealistic at present, she said reducing exposure to temptation should be the immediate priority.
In Sümer’s words, it’s important to reduce temptations, as she calls for tighter safeguards to protect young adults from accumulating debt through gambling and easy credit products.
If implemented, a gambling age threshold of 24 would mark one of the strictest regulatory frameworks in Europe, where 18 remains the standard legal age for gambling participation in most countries.
Earlier Proposals Sparked National Debate
Sümer’s proposal follows earlier national discussions around tightening Dutch gambling laws.
In February 2025, former State Secretary for Legal Protection Teun Struycken proposed raising the minimum age for online slot games to 21, alongside introducing stricter deposit limits for younger players.
The proposal triggered debate within the Dutch gambling sector. The chairman of the Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), warned that stricter age limits could unintentionally push younger users toward unregulated black-market gambling platforms.
“We already see minors doing so. And for young people under 21, the illegal supply will still be accessible with a few mouse clicks, while they will no longer be able to enter legal parties, which must adhere to a strict duty of care,” the KSA chairman, Michel Groothuizen, said last year.
Lawmakers Consider a Phased Approach
A parliamentary debate held a month later explored whether a gradual implementation could reduce the risk of consumers turning to illegal gambling operators.
During those discussions, Christian Union leader Mirjam Bikker questioned whether raising the age limit only for specific gambling products, such as online slots, would be practical to enforce. Instead, she suggested introducing a universal gambling age limit of 21 across all gambling categories.
Sümer is now encouraging other municipalities and political parties across the Netherlands to support broader national reforms aimed at limiting youth exposure to gambling and easy-access credit products.
As concerns over financial vulnerability among young adults continue to grow, the debate over gambling regulation appears set to remain high on the Dutch political agenda.
KSA Issues Warning Ahead of FIFA World Cup
In the meantime, the KSA is also preparing for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. In a recent statement, the regulator said it will bolster its supervision of advertising and sports betting during the highly anticipated tournament. All licensed operators have now received a letter to remind them of the applicable rules on betting ads and offerings.
KSA puts strong emphasis on the ban on untargeted advertising and sports partnerships. The regulator also reminds casinos that not all types of online betting are allowed in the country. For instance, locals cannot bet on props such as who will get a yellow card or take the first corner kick of a game.
During the World Cup, KSA will stay on high alert for illegal operators who try to advertise their unregulated offerings. The regulator said such offenders will be subject to direct sanctions if necessary.
Last but not least, the gambling watchdog will monitor for risks related to sports betting, and particularly, raise awareness of the potential downsides of gambling among young people.
“During the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 European Championship, we saw an increase in gambling activity. That makes it attractive for companies to recruit new players during such periods. We strongly urge operators to prioritise the protection of young adults and other vulnerable groups and to comply with the applicable rules,” concluded Groothuizen.
