Just this week, the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) called for cooperation from Google and Meta in its battle against illegal gambling advertising, while keeping legal action against major tech companies as an alternative.
In a statement published on October 14, 2026, KSA’s chairman Michel Groothuizen said the regulator was pursuing a dual approach of encouraging voluntary compliance and preparing for potential legal action against major online platforms.
These comments come on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Netherlands legalising its market for online casinos in October 2021. However, despite the introduction of a regulated sector, illegal gambling remains a significant concern for the regulator.
KSA Goes After Illegal Gambling Advertising
In his statement, Groothuizen said research suggests that approximately 90% of Dutch online gamblers use only licensed operators. However, the financial picture is different, with an amount equivalent to every euro wagered legally also going to the illegal market.
Over the last couple of years, the regulator has made enforcement against unregulated gambling a priority. However, Groothuizen acknowledged that fining casinos without a proper license has had limited impact as collecting the penalties can be difficult.
As a result, the regulator has spent the past 18 months looking for measures to disrupt illegal gambling services by making them harder to find and blocking payments to and from them.
Groothuizen also addressed calls for tougher action against major technology companies, including Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). In a September debate, Dutch MP Bart Bikkers of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy called for the gambling regulator to impose fines on these companies.
Meanwhile, gambling lawyer Justin Franssen has also urged the regulator to take a tougher stance against Big Tech. Groothuizen acknowledged the appeal of a more aggressive enforcement approach but noted that unsuccessful legal action could undermine the regulator’s position.
Legal Action Could Take Years
In Groothuizen’s words, major technology companies make enormous revenue from advertisements placed by illegal gambling operators in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe.
He added that the gambling watchdog can collect evidence that platforms allow for prohibited advertising, including advertisements targeting vulnerable people registered with national self-exclusion schemes and children under the age of 18.
KSA believes both Dutch law and the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) provide enough ground for action against such practices. However, enforcement under the DSA ultimately falls within the European Commission’s remit.
Groothuizen explained that having grounds for a case does not automatically mean legal proceedings should commence. He is concerned that a legal battle against major technology companies could prove lengthy and expensive, with the platforms potentially challenging the regulator's arguments and evidence at every stage.
Therefore, he notes that a final court ruling could take around five years, while the outcome would still remain uncertain.
Groothuizen described fines as a means to achieve compliance rather than an objective in themselves. He argued that the gambling authority must carefully assess whether legal proceedings would deliver meaningful results before initiating a confrontation.
Google and Meta Discussions Produce Joint Task Force
Besides preparing for possible legal action, the KSA is also looking into trying to secure voluntary commitments from technology companies to restrict illegal gambling advertising.
Groothuizen shared that the Dutch regulator and several European counterparts were in talks with Google and Meta in Dublin last spring, where the companies maintain their European headquarters.
Both sides acknowledge that legal proceedings are the alternative to cooperation, while discussions continued alongside the regulator's efforts to build potential legal cases. The talks have resulted in a joint task force devoted to measures to reduce the visibility of illegal gambling businesses.
One initiative involves developing a whitelist of licensed gambling operators across the European Union in cooperation with Google. The proposed list would identify legal operators, allowing Google to exclude other gambling businesses from its advertising services.
Groothuizen described the initiative as a potential way to shut off a major source of illegal gambling advertising, adding that further measures could also be necessary. However, he cautioned against regarding technology companies as permanent allies, noting that their commercial interests often conflict with the regulator's objectives.
Keeping Enforcement Options Open
The regulator will continue pursuing cooperation but could resort to legal action if voluntary commitments prove insufficient or fail to deliver effective results.
Groothuizen argued that cooperation and enforcement are not mutually exclusive. Instead, the KSA intends to encourage companies to improve their practices while preparing for possible confrontation.
He also pointed to broader efforts by Western governments, particularly the European Commission, to hold technology platforms accountable across various areas, including illegal medicines and vaping products.
Groothuizen concluded that the regulator would not hesitate to take a technology company to court if agreements failed to produce adequate results.
Therefore, the Authority’s approach combines negotiations with preparations for enforcement, as the Netherlands seeks to limit illegal gambling advertising five years after launching its regulated online market.
