Dutch Regulator Says Risk Systems in Online Gambling Need Major Improvement

Player protection in the Netherlands is back in the spotlight after the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) raised concerns about how operators analyze game risks. A new report shows that the tools used by licensed gambling sites may not be giving players the protection they’re supposed to.

Good to know

• KSA reviewed licensed operators in 2024–2025 and found risk systems often inconsistent.
• Asterig and Gamgard are the main tools in use, but both face validity concerns.
• Operators often assess risk by game category instead of individual titles, leading to gaps.

The regulator’s findings paint a picture of systems that cost operators time and money but fail to consistently prevent harm for players.

Questions Around Current Risk Methods

Licensed operators in the Netherlands must carry out risk analysis for high-risk games such as online slots. These checks are part of the “duty of care” rules designed to protect players. But according to KSA, the methods used today fall short.

The two most common systems, Asterig and Gamgard, were built before the Dutch market went legal in 2021. KSA pointed out that Asterig, created in 2010 and updated in 2013, offers consistent results but relies on weak scoring scales and limited criteria. Gamgard, on the other hand, only screens a narrow set of factors and is not even publicly available.

“Although academic articles raised concerns about these methods at the time, no new or alternative methods have emerged to date,” the KSA said.

Inconsistent Outcomes Across Operators

Another issue flagged in the study is inconsistency. Operators often run their analysis at the category level—like “slots” as a whole—instead of each game individually. That means some games may be wrongly labeled as lower risk.

Even when the same consultants were hired, the regulator found differences in results between operators. “Analyses differ by licensee, even when the same consultancy/consultant is used,” KSA noted. “It appears that the risk analyses do not lead to consistent results, even when conducted by the same party.”

The lack of a uniform standard means regulators can’t easily compare outcomes across the industry. Some operators include mitigating measures in their reports while others don’t, making the results even harder to align.

System Needs Improvements

KSA concluded that the current setup is “not functioning properly” and is already working with the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security on future improvements. The regulator’s long-term goal is a single, consistent framework for risk assessment that every licensee must follow.

The hope is that a uniform system will create more reliable protection for players and reduce the grey areas around who carries out the analysis and how it’s measured. For now, though, the Dutch online gambling sector faces more questions than answers when it comes to risk analysis.

In related news, KSA also announced that the Dutch gambling market will face its first licence renewal cycle in 2026 with tougher requirements. From January 1, operators must provide detailed exit plans and compliance documents when reapplying. Licences begin expiring in October that year, and renewal decisions will heavily depend on each operator’s track record during the first five-year period.

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