Dutch iGaming GGR Growth Is Slowing Down, KSA Says

The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has published data about the legal iGaming industry’s performance in 2023.

According to the authority, the gross gaming revenue of licensed operators increased, although the growth rate slowed down compared to the previous year. In 2023, the total GGR reached EUR 1.39 billion ($1.51 billion), up from EUR 1.08 billion ($1.17 billion) in 2022.

On average, players spent EUR 160 ($173) per month on gambling in the second half of the year, which represents a slight decrease from H1 2023 when players spent EUR 170 ($184) on average. According to the Kansspelautoriteit, players spent an average of EUR 958 ($1,040) in the second half of 2023. 

The number of active players remained roughly the same but the number of gambling accounts increased. The Kansspelautoriteit elaborated that the total number of accounts increased from 970,000 in 2022 to 1.1 million in 2023. However, the regulator noted that this figure does not accurately reflect the number of players since many have more than one account.

KSA Reports High Channelization Rates

The KSA also published information about its channelization rates, saying that the Netherlands has met the target it had set for itself when it regulated online gambling. For reference, the country sought to have at least 8 in 10 players play with licensed providers that offer sufficient player protection.

Currently, 90% of the Dutch gamblers play through legal websites, the regulator said. It attributed the impressive channelization rates to the influx of new players.

The KSA provided special attention to younger gamblers, emphasizing that they are a more vulnerable demographic. According to the authority, young adults aged 18 to 23 are responsible for 22% of all accounts despite representing only 9.5% of the population.

Despite that, the overall number of younger gamblers did not increase significantly in 2023, the regulator pointed out. The authority also said that, on average, young adults lose less money than older players and would usually spend no more than EUR 52 ($56.5) per month.

Finally, the KSA turned its attention to the recently introduced ban on untargeted advertising. The measure, which came into effect on July 1, 2023, was expected to have a dramatic effect on the sector. In reality, operators’ revenues remained stable, although visitation by people who are not existing players declined noticeably, the KSA reported.