Netherlands Prepares Fresh Look at Land-Based Slot Rules as Rutte Cites New Research

The Netherlands is preparing to revisit how land-based slot machines are regulated. Arno Rutte, the newly appointed secretary of state for legal protection, told lawmakers that fresh academic research will guide future decisions on slot machine policy. He delivered his comments in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives, pointing to five recent reports on gambling, including one from the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) focused on tax and slot regulation.

Good to Know

• Dutch slot regulations have barely changed since 2000, despite big shifts in player behavior.
• Cash is still dominant for slot play, even though digital payments have grown.
• Spending limits remain frozen at levels first set when the euro was introduced in 2002.

Cash Still Central to Slot Play

One of the most striking findings was how cash continues to dominate physical slot play. Older players in particular prefer notes and coins, while younger players lean more toward cards and contactless payments. Researchers warned that heavy reliance on cash creates risks like robbery and money laundering.

Yet, health experts expressed caution about pushing too quickly into cashless play. They argued that physically handling money often gives players a brief moment to pause and reflect on their spending, something that may be lost with digital-only systems.

“Health experts indicated seeing and feeling cash, especially during the exchange process, can provide a moment of realisation for the player,” the report said.

The idea of personalized player cards was also discussed. While they could enable tools like betting limits, the hospitality sector flagged costs and practical barriers.

Mixed Views on Player Identification

Another hot topic in the research was player ID requirements. Full identification checks are currently limited to casinos and gaming halls, while bars and other hospitality venues only check for age. Stakeholders described this as a loophole in the system.

Some experts in harm prevention support rolling out full ID checks everywhere. Others, however, worry about the high costs of such systems and argue that stricter entry barriers could push people toward illegal slot play.

“Based on the results of the choice experiment it has become clear that the possible, the introduction of player accounts on physical slot machines could pose a barrier to entry for players,” the report explained.

Debate on Limits and Content

Slot limits in the Netherlands are among the toughest in Europe. Players cannot stake more than €0.20 at a time and losses are capped at €40 per hour. These figures were set more than two decades ago and have not kept pace with inflation.

Some researchers and industry participants suggested raising the limits to €0.50 and €100, while others supported giving players the option to set personal caps. At the same time, there are concerns about the financial and technical burden of changing the system.

Content was also discussed. Current rules restrict how many games a machine can offer. Some operators called for an expansion of available titles, but most casino and arcade operators said they do not see urgent need, citing cost and sufficient variety already on the floor.

“Modernisation is simply not urgent for them because they can easily handle the existing technical regulations,” the report concluded.

Rutte confirmed that his office will use these findings when drafting updates to slot machine policy. The reports highlighted a delicate balance: protecting players and reducing illegal play, while keeping regulation practical for operators.

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