The Kansspelautoriteit is working with Google on a European Union-wide list of legal gambling providers, but chair Michel Groothuizen says the Dutch regulator remains prepared to take legal action if voluntary cooperation does not produce results. The effort is intended to help Google identify and block unlicensed operators, supporting player protection and efforts to limit the Dutch black market.
Groothuizen said collaboration and litigation are not mutually exclusive. The regulator can continue discussions with technology companies while also preparing a legal case, he said.
Building a list with Google
The KSA has pressed search engines and social media companies to do more to address illegal gambling offers. Groothuizen described its dealings with major technology firms as a balancing act: seeking practical changes and maintaining a constructive relationship while retaining the ability to challenge companies in court.
The regulator wants companies to make voluntary changes and accept responsibility, he said. Some measures are straightforward for the platforms to implement, while others require substantial technical or financial effort. The KSA is seeking agreement on the more achievable steps while working towards broader changes.
Last spring, the KSA and several other European regulators met Google and Meta in Dublin, where the companies have their European headquarters. A joint task force is now working with Google on a whitelist of legal providers across the EU. Groothuizen said operators absent from the list could be blocked by Google, potentially cutting off one significant source of illegal gambling, although other sources would still need to be addressed.
The KSA is not the only organisation pursuing cooperation with large technology companies. PAF recently announced a partnership with Meta to tackle illegal gambling in Switzerland. Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has also committed to working with social media platforms against illegal gambling advertising.
Legal action remains possible
Groothuizen said the KSA does not regard technology companies as permanent allies, noting that their commercial interests can conflict with the regulator’s aims. If very large online platforms make insufficient efforts, or voluntary measures prove ineffective, the legal route remains open, he said.
Legal action has already been initiated in the Netherlands. VNLOK summoned Meta to court in September over what it described as the large-scale spread of illegal gambling advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
Groothuizen said cooperation and confrontation could proceed at the same time. The KSA would not hesitate to challenge technology companies if agreements failed to deliver sufficient results, he said, adding that the regulator should be judged by that standard.
