Dutch Gaming Regulator Braces for Significant Restructuring

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) will undergo a significant internal transformation, reflecting the sharp evolution of the country’s gambling market and its associated risks in recent years. Starting from January 1, 2026, a new, streamlined governance model will centralize the regulator’s management structure, bolstering its focus on player protection, digital oversight, and enforcement.

An Updated Leadership Structure Reflects Shifting Market Trends

The regulator announced that it will maintain continuity, meaning that Michel Groothuizen will remain chairman and the sole full-time member of the Board of Directors. Two additional part-time board members will contribute strategic input rather than overseeing day-to-day operations. Their recruitment is at an advanced stage, and formal announcements are expected in the next few months.

“This change will make the KSA a modern, agile organization that oversees a rapidly changing gambling market.”

KSA statement

The regulator is also consolidating its internal departments into three directorates responsible for day-to-day management. One will concentrate on Player Protection and Management Advice, underscoring the growing political and public emphasis on harm prevention. Another will oversee Licenses and Supervision, maintaining the regulator’s core responsibilities around market access and compliance. The third, Digitalization, Analysis, and Operations, will keep track of technological advancements in the sector.

The directors of these three new directorates, Roos Lawant, Ella Seijsener, and Daniël Palomo van Es, will collectively assume operational control, leaving the board to focus on strategy, governance, and accountability. Vice-chair Bernadette van Buchem will step down at the end of 2025, concluding a four-decade career in public service marked by a strong commitment to gambling regulation.

Illegal Operators Remain a Persistent Issue

The restructuring aligns with a moment of self-reflection for the KSA. In a recent speech, Groothuizen admitted the limitations of the Netherlands’ current regulatory framework. Despite the introduction of a regulated online market, offshore operators continue to thrive due to the country’s reluctance to block websites or impose aggressive internet restrictions. 

At the same time, some of the Netherlands’ strict player protection rules have led to unintended consequences. There has been a gradual but steady movement of high-spending players to unlicensed platforms, causing tension in the regulated market and undermining channelization efforts. Groothuizen underlined the growing need for international collaboration by regulators to address the global rise in illegal gambling.

Groothuizen has consistently called for deeper international cooperation, even floating the idea of a Europe-wide body dedicated to combating illegal gambling, akin to Interpol. The KSA’s reorganization signals that gambling oversight is no longer just about issuing licenses and chasing violations. It is about data, digital tools, and strategic coordination — and the regulator wants to remain relevant.