Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders (VNLOK) has issued a stark warning to Dutch gambling stakeholders concerning the activity of the illegal market.
VNLOK, a trade body for licensed Dutch operators, said that reviews on Google and Trustpilot are being manipulated, resulting in illegal websites being made to look trustworthy by false reviews and fake profiles, in addition to illegal websites being promoted through websites that have been acquired or hacked, including former Government websites.
These revelations came from Meld Vals Spel, an initiative launched in November 2024 that covers illegal gambling reporting. VNLOK stated it has received a total of 238 reports about practices used by illegal gambling providers.
“We see how sophisticated illegal gambling sites masquerade as trustworthy entities,” noted Björn Fuchs, Chair of VNLOK.
“This makes it nearly impossible for consumers to tell the difference. That’s why it’s crucial that reports are followed up quickly and that illegal providers are dealt with more rigorously.”
VNLOK has called on Dutch politicians to trust legal gambling and note the damage illegal practices can do to players who are at risk, stating that high taxes and additional restrictions on legal providers push players to illegal operators.
These comments are in response to significant changes to the country’s tax on gambling, which increased from 30.5% to 34.2% in 2025, and it will rise again to 37.8% in 2026.
The trade association said: “Give the Netherlands gambling authority the power to take decisive action and immediately block illegal gambling sites and their affiliates. And ensure that the legal market remains attractive and visible, so players can more easily find a safe provider.”
Of note, Meld Vals Spel said that most reports (30%) highlighted misleading advertisements from illegal online casinos, while other areas included misuse of logos and names of legitimate providers (20%), making illegal sites accessible to minors (10%), and problems with payments and withdrawals.
According to VNLOK, €1.2bn is estimated to be spent by Dutch players with illegal providers in 2025, while around 200,000 gamble illegally online, “36% of whom are at-risk gamblers – four times as many as with legal providers”.
Supported by Frank Kruit in processing the reports, the trade association added that a quarter of players don’t know if they are gambling legally or illegally.
