Dutch Online Gambling Market Grows Steadily as Player Accounts Increase by 158%
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The Netherlands gambling authority, de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has released its latest data on the local iGaming industry revealing a significant year-on-year increase in player accounts and revenues.
According to the report, gross gaming result (BSR) for the year 2022 came to €1.08 billion. This figure was lower than expected as H2 forecasts estimated that the total year BSR would be around €1.22 billion. Despite this, Q4 revenues increase steadily to €327 million from €271 million in the previous quarter.
The KSA also noted that January 2023 showed significant improvement with a 37.7% year-on-year increase in monthly revenues from €90 million in January 2022 to €123 million in January 2023. However, the KSA noted that it expects this increase to average out to around 13-15% over the course of 2023.
Player numbers on the rise
In January 2023, there were 2.1 million accounts in the Netherlands. This was a 158% increase on the 799,000 in January 2022. Of that figure there were 859,000 active accounts with 365,000 players gambling on a monthly basis. 57% of players had one account only while 22% had four or more accounts.
During the reporting period of October 2021 to July 2022, players lost an average of €153 per month for each account that they held. However, from August 2022 to January 2023 that figure fell to €143 per month.
Young adults gamble more but lose less
Young adults aged 18 to 23 accounted for a gross gaming income of €102 million making up 9% of 2022’s total BSR. The KSA notes that this is in line with predictions as around 9.5% of the general population in the Netherlands is under the age of 24.
In January 2023, around 183,000 accounts belonged to young adults with 2.6 accounts per player. The report also reveals that young adults play more than older players, but their loss per account is €54 per month, much lower than the average loss of €143. They also spend more on sports betting and poker than those in older age groups.
Legal casinos the most popular option
When the regulated online gaming industry launched in October 2021, the KSA set a target of 8 out of every 10 players gambling at legal and licensed gambling websites. According to the report that target has been met with 92% of all players now using legal gambling providers. This figure is even higher among those who are new to gambling. The KSA notes that 98% of players gambling for the first time do so through a licensed online casino or sportsbook.
In a statement released alongside the report René Jansen, chairperson of the KSA said:
‘This fourth monitoring report shows a growth in the market for online games of chance, as we previously predicted. This is a development that requires our attention. Providers of games of chance must take up their duty of care firmly and intervene in a timely manner to protect players in order to realize that safe environment.
Our investigation into the implementation of the duty of care this spring shows that the duty of care is interpreted in a very broad and varied manner. It is therefore very important that we, together with providers, look at a clearer interpretation that protects players in the best possible way. Compliance with the duty of care is also a priority in our supervision.’
So far this year, the KSA has issued fines totaling €8.9 million with the majority of those fines coming as a result of gambling operators marketing to young adults. This is restricted under Dutch gambling advertising regulations.
Thomas NielsenGambling industry journalist with a background in online poker and trading. Covering the regulated U.S Sports industry and the exciting world of online poker.
