Gambling in the Netherlands is experiencing a boom that is hard to ignore. With the legalisation of online gambling in 2021, the market has found new frontiers. However, behind the colourful façade of profit and opportunity, there are issues that are not commonly discussed in the open.

The Economic Boom and the Trap of Gambling

The lucrative market has become a real engine for the economy. According to https://cruks-casinos.com, casino revenues reached four billion euros by the end of 2023, of which 1.39 billion came from the online segment. One in five Dutch adults is registered on a gaming platform. The figures are impressive, but should we blindly trust them? Growing income is not always a sign of prosperity, but rather an indication of the depth of society’s dependence on “luck”.

The problem is that external growth often loses control. The industry that has overtaken the regulators begins to dictate its own rules. This is not development, it is expansion, which destroys from within, slowly but inevitably. Players are sinking deeper and deeper, and legal casinos, despite strict laws, are only part of the overall problem.

Regulators vs. Reality

Laws? They are. The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) fights for a clean market, restricts advertising, and introduces self-protection mechanisms for players. For example, Cruks is a self-exclusion programme that has tens of thousands of users. The system seems to work, but it’s an illusion. Each new law has its own workaround, and the market actively uses it.

Some platforms are simply going into the shadows. Illegal operators continue to attract those who are tired of the strict conditions of legal casinos. And this is where regulators are powerless: the shadow market cares neither about laws, nor about the protection of players. It is like a virus that cannot be destroyed by bans.

Social Shadows and Personal Tragedies

Among the high-profile casino success stories, one hardly hears about the victims of the industry. Every new million euros of profit is someone’s lost wages, destroyed family or personal tragedy. The problem of gambling addiction in the Netherlands is growing every year. Official figures say that about two per cent of the population have serious gambling problems. Doesn’t seem like much? But enough to show that the problem is real.

Paradoxically, this has not stopped the flow of advertising. It has been banned, reduced, regulated, but it is far from complete silence. Legal operators find loopholes, while illegal operators stop at nothing. People caught in this maelstrom are often left without support, especially when it comes to unlicensed platforms.

Threats to Business

Business, of course, is not indifferent to problems. But is it willing to sacrifice its profits for the sake of morality? The answer is obvious. A tax blow is already looming on the horizon: rates will rise to 37.8 per cent from 2026. This is not just bad news for operators. It is a challenge that could destroy the delicate balance between the legal and shadow market.

And if earlier the state could justify the growth of the industry with tax revenues, now the risks are increasing. Many analysts predict an exodus of players into the illegal sector. And this is not only an economic, but also a social problem, which is difficult to deal with alone.

Positive Aspects of the Casino

Casinos in the Netherlands are a complex and controversial phenomenon. But as much as their negative aspects are striking, to ignore their contribution to the economy and society would be shortsighted, to say the least. There are aspects that deserve careful and even, dare I say it, respectful consideration:

• Workplaces. There’s no getting around this one. These establishments employ thousands of people. And it’s not just about the staff in plain sight: croupiers, managers, security guards. IT specialists, analysts, marketers, cleaners, administrators work behind the scenes. The machine is spinning, creating places where they are often lacking.
• Taxes. The money that players leave at the gaming tables does not evaporate into thin air. It goes into the budget. And this budget, ironically, directs funds to the things that are so important – education, medicine, social programmes. This paradox, it seems, is worth thinking about.
• Tourism. Amsterdam and Rotterdam attract tourists like a magnet. Not only because of their architecture or museums. Casinos are also a part of city life. Guests fill hotels, restaurants, shopping centres. The economy of the cities gets a tangible boost, which benefits even those who have never crossed the threshold of such establishments.
• Responsibility. Contrary to stereotypes, the industry does not shy away from problems. Legal operators fund support programmes and help addicts. This is not a game of chivalry. It is part of a system that recognises its role.
• Technology. Gambling is not only a game, but also innovation. Data protection, blockchain, artificial intelligence – areas that are developing largely thanks to investments from this sector. Gambling halls are becoming a testing ground for solutions that find application outside the industry.

These aspects show that casinos in the Netherlands are not just entertainment. They are a complex, multifaceted mechanism that affects society and the economy. Of course, they carry risks, but to ignore their contribution would be to turn a blind eye to important realities.

Where Does This Path Lead?

It is difficult to talk about the future of the industry. On the one hand, its growth seems inevitable. People will always be looking for risk, excitement and the opportunity to get rich quick. But on the other hand, there is growing pressure: from society, from lawmakers, even from the players themselves, who are beginning to realise the dangers.

Casinos in the Netherlands have become more than just a business. It is a mirror that reflects society’s weaknesses, greed and desire for easy solutions. As regulators try to close new loopholes, the market continues to evolve. But where will it end up? There are no answers yet, only speculation