KSA Studies Examine Dutch Youth Gambling Patterns

Three national studies compiled by the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) have given the Dutch regulator a broader view of how young people encounter gambling, how behaviour changes after reaching legal age and where further protections may be needed.

The research covers people aged 15 to 24, with one study examining early exposure, another analysing gambling accounts among 18- to 24-year-olds and a third assessing gambling among nearly 30,000 MBO students. The findings show that gambling can enter young people's lives years before they reach 18.

Gambling Can Begin During Childhood

Research by Youngworks found that first exposure commonly occurs between ages 8 and 12. Family members or older friends may introduce children to activities such as scratchcards, lotteries or casual betting. Participants often did not regard those experiences as gambling at the time.

By ages 12 to 14, gambling can become an independent social activity. Young people reported experiences involving friends, poker, football-related pools and gifted scratchcards. Between 14 and 16, gambling increasingly moves online.

The research also found that some minors bypass restrictions by using accounts belonging to older friends or relatives. Gambling exposure also reaches young audiences through TikTok, sports broadcasts and outdoor advertising.

The findings come as the Dutch government considers tighter restrictions on gambling advertising. Earlier this year, a CDA representative also called for the online gambling age to rise from 18 to 24.

Account Registrations Rise Around Age 18

The KSA examined 15,761 gambling accounts belonging to people aged 18 to 24. The analysis showed that 41% of the accounts involved 18-year-olds, while registrations increased sharply on or soon after their 18th birthdays.

In 2024-25, 11% of accounts opened by 18-year-olds were registered on their birthday, and 38% appeared within a month of that date.

The research also challenged the assumption that sports betting commonly provides an entry into casino gambling. Casino play accounted for the starting product in 72% of accounts, compared with 11% for sports betting.

During their first three months, 18-year-olds gambled more frequently than the 19-24 group, although their median daily stakes were lower. Young adults averaged four gambling days per month, while the median daily stake stood at €111 compared with €209 among older adults.

Student Gambling Remains Mostly Occasional

The third study examined 29,724 MBO students aged 15 to 24. About 32% said they had gambled during the previous year, including 28% of minors and 39% of adults.

Most participants who gambled did so only once or a few times annually. Still, 10% reported gambling monthly or more. Minors mainly used physical gambling products, while adults showed greater participation in online gambling and higher-risk products.

Around 2% of students showed signs associated with gambling-related harm, with online involvement and using multiple gambling products linked to greater risk.

The KSA said: “In the coming months, the KSA will continue to work to see what additional measures are needed to better protect young people. This is already being worked on together with the government.”

Source:

“Gambling patterns of Dutch youth to inform future KSA work”, sbcnews.co.uk, August 20, 2026