SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Gambling Authority of the Netherlands, will fund a pilot program with Gamban to provide a comprehensive block of all online gambling websites and apps targeting Dutch audiences.
Operating in the UK since 2015, Gamban is recognised as the most comprehensive gambling block and self-exclusion solution, compatible across all devices and operating systems (Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android).
As detailed, the pilot aims to ensure that “anyone in the Netherlands can obtain a free one-year Gamban subscription by contacting the country’s national support service, Loket Kansspel, via the website, WhatsApp, email, or phone.”
Gamban will introduce its new Dutch version of the app, ensuring the most effective gambling block solution is available for the KSA, while also providing a new route to self-exclusion for Dutch gambling consumers.
Nathalie Smit, Director at Loket Kansspel, said: “At Loket Kansspel, we believe that taking control of your online environment is crucial for breaking free from gambling addiction. By partnering with Gamban, we’re empowering individuals to stay in control and manage their gambling behavior. We are excited to provide people with free access to gambling-blocking software.”
The Dutch pilot builds on similar collaborations with Norway’s state-owned lottery and gaming operator, Norsk Tipping, which offers software to self-excluded individuals, as well as Finland’s monopoly operator, Veikkaus. Additionally, Gamban is available for free through Ohio’s self-exclusion platform, TimeOutOhio.
Further responsibilities will see Gamban assist the KSA in detecting unregulated gambling sites as part of its renewed efforts to tackle illegal gambling.
Thomas Borghols, Addiction Prevention Fund Adviser at the KSA, stated: “At present, the KSA offers players struggling with their gambling behavior the option to self-exclude through Cruks. When used together, Cruks and Gamban provide players with a pathway to recovery. Teaming up with Loket Kansspel for the distribution of Gamban subscriptions was a logical choice for us, given that they are the first point of contact for players seeking independent, judgment-free conversations about the gambling issues they face.”
In November, the Dutch Parliament (Kamer) was presented with the WODC Report, conducted by the Research Agency for Justice and Security, evaluating the Remote Gambling Act (KOA)—the legislative framework that launched the Dutch online gambling marketplace in October 2021.
The evaluation highlighted that the KSA is currently deficient in resources to protect high-risk customers from gambling harms. Current limits fail to safeguard players who bypass restrictions by using multiple gambling providers.
The KSA has been tasked with improving its coordination with stakeholders, including addiction experts and gambling providers, to enhance its problem gambling strategy and close gaps in player safeguards.
Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder of Gamban, commented: “Having a self-exclusion scheme in place can lead to the unintended consequence of leaving the most vulnerable individuals exposed to black market operators. Layering blocking software with self-exclusion ensures that devices cannot access gambling sites and apps, whether regulated or unregulated.”
“We always recommend using additional barriers alongside gambling-blocking software, such as self-exclusion. These layers of friction give individuals a chance to pause between urge and action. During this time, they can either ride out their urge or reconsider before acting on temptation. In a world where the lure of immediate gratification through digital activity is increasingly tempting, we want to help people regain control and balance—and using Gamban, they can do that.”
