Kansspelautoriteit, the Dutch gambling regulator say it began 2025 with a blitz on illegal gambling apps. Since the start of 2025, it has removed 20 unlicensed gambling apps from app stores in the Netherlands.
With an increasing number of apps referring users to illegal websites, the regulator said the problem of unlicensed apps in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store was becoming increasingly urgent. It said such sites often accessible to minors.
KSA reported that many illegal apps advertisers used social media, and illegal providers often employed underhanded techniques to trick consumers. For example, through displaying logos of licensed providers. It cited the example of an all in the Apple App Store that misused the Holland Casino logo.
After download, the app links to illegal gambling websites. It also noted that advertisers often promote many non-gambling games, usually variations of plinko. KSA urged consumers to report suspicious apps to help continue taking action.
It said that in the past three months, the KSA has had 20 of these apps removed so that they are no longer available to users. It is of great importance to the KSA that consumers continue to report these apps, so that this process can keep throughout the year. When reporting gambling advertising, it is essential to mention the name of the app in question.
Aside from the reports from consumers, the KSA is also increasingly receiving reports from industry associations and licensed gambling operators. For instance, through Meld Vals Spel, a platform set up by the industry for reporting illegal gambling sites. The KSA investigates reports received through that platform. It has working deals with app stores to report illegal apps to them and have them removed.
