Dutch online gambling revenue skyrockets 28% to $1.5 billion in 2023

The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has released its Spring 2024 online gambling report, providing a comprehensive overview of the market for the preceding year, based on data supplied by the Netherlands's licensed operators.

Gross gaming revenue in the Netherlands totaled €1.39 billion ($1.5 billion), marking a 28% increase from the previous year's €1.08 billion ($1.14 billion). Notably, online casino activities accounted for a significant 77% of the total revenue.

The number of total player accounts witnessed a rise in 2023, climbing from 970,000 in December 2022 to 1.1 million by December 2023. Approximately 726,000 players were deemed active with legal providers during this period, the Spring 2024 online gambling report said.

It was estimated that around 5% of the adult population engaged in gambling activities during the second half of 2023. Moreover, an average of 448,000 players were active on a monthly basis, showcasing consistent engagement within the market.

The report also sheds light on the broader European online gambling landscape, highlighting a faster growth rate compared to the Netherlands. The KSA forecasts an average annual growth rate of approximately 8% over the next five years for the Dutch market, lower than the forecasted growth for the EU market, expected to increase by 12% in 2024.

On average, players were found to visit 2.9 gambling websites per month in the second half of 2023, indicating a moderate increase from H1, which stood at 2.6. The report also detailed the distribution of website visits among players, with 19% of players visiting four or more websites a month.

In terms of financial metrics, players were reported to have lost an average of €958 ($1,019) over the last six months, translating to €160 ($170) per month. This figure marked a slight decline from previous reporting periods.

Special attention was given to young adults (18-23 years old) due to their perceived vulnerability, with the report noting that this demographic accounted for €135m ($14.36 million) in gambling turnover in 2023. Despite comprising 9.5% of the population, young adults represented 22% of active accounts, with comparatively lower average losses per account.

Moreover, the report addressed the impact of regulatory measures, including the untargeted advertising ban implemented in July 2023. While the ban resulted in a sharp decrease in website visits by non-gamblers, it was deemed not to have affected the overall market size or channelization efforts, which remained at an estimated 90%.

The Central Register for the Exclusion of Gambling (Cruks) witnessed a steady increase in registrations throughout the year, reaching a total of 63,543 as of January 2024, highlighting a growing awareness and utilization of responsible gambling tools.