KSA Sets Out Ambitious Player Safety Agenda for 2026

The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening player protection in 2026, closing out January with the publication of its supervisory agenda for the coming 12 months. After a challenging and politically charged year for both the gambling sector and the Netherlands more broadly, the authority has struck an optimistic tone as it looks ahead to a period of intensified oversight and reform.

In the agenda, KSA Chair Michel Groothuizen and his team identify five urgent priorities that will shape the regulator’s work throughout the year. These focus areas are tackling illegal and offshore operators, safeguarding vulnerable groups, enforcing duty of care obligations, tightening rules around advertising, and reinforcing anti-money laundering (AML) measures across the licensed market.

A major emphasis of the plan is the continued fight against the black market, which the KSA views as the most serious threat to the integrity of the regulated Dutch gambling environment. Building on what it considers a successful 2025, the regulator intends to further coordinate efforts among all stakeholders in the licensed sector to mount a broad counteroffensive against illegal operators. Last year, the KSA managed to blacklist a significant number of affiliates operating under the .nl domain through cooperation with the Foundation for Internet Domain Registration, and it expects this strategy to be expanded. At the same time, closer collaboration with social media platforms to identify and remove unlawful gambling content is set to deepen. Another notable initiative planned for this year involves investigative work aimed at tracing slot machines that originated from bankrupt or permanently closed land-based gambling venues.

Protecting vulnerable groups is also positioned as a central pillar of the regulator’s strategy. The KSA has reiterated that children, as well as current or at-risk problem gamblers, will receive heightened attention. The authority has made it clear that reducing minors’ exposure to gambling is a priority, with plans to rely on more extensive data controls and increased monitoring of licensed operators to limit contact between underage individuals and gambling products.

Operators can also expect stricter oversight of their duty of care responsibilities as 2026 progresses. With a wide range of online gambling reforms already being rolled out, the KSA has signalled that compliance will be actively tested, leaving little room for complacency among providers. Several studies examining player behaviour are due to conclude later this year, and their findings are expected to influence further regulatory changes. Among these is a review of the effectiveness of player financial checks currently in use, the results of which are likely to shape the KSA’s future regulatory approach.

On the financial crime front, the regulator has outlined plans for intensified AML supervision. While the Netherlands is already regarded as having strong safeguards in place, the KSA anticipates even greater scrutiny ahead, particularly with the newly established European anti-money laundering authority, AMLA, expected to begin operations later this year.

Taken together, the agenda points to a demanding and highly active year ahead for the Dutch gambling industry. With a new government now in place and the regulator determined to push forward on multiple fronts, the next 12 months promise significant change for gambling operators and players alike in the Netherlands.

By fLEXI tEAM