Dutch Lawmakers Want Age Verification for iGaming and Porn

Lawmakers in the Netherlands have supported the introduction of age verification measures for online gambling amid recent regulatory failures. The country, which launched regulated iGaming a few years ago, continues to struggle to hit the right regulatory balance.

An End to Underage Gambling and Pornography Consumption

The latest appeal for robust age verification measures comes from Don Ceder, a representative of the Christian Union. He appealed for age verification procedures for online gambling and adult websites that would prevent young people from engaging with age-inappropriate content.

Ceder envisions procedures that are reliable without infringing on internet users’ privacy. Ceder noted that the Netherlands is already working on regulations for online alcohol sales. At the same time, the country is preparing to adopt new European Union measures that would restrict social media services for minors.

At the same time, other European markets, including the UK, France and Spain, are already working on more robust regulations that would protect young internet users from harm.

In light of the ongoing changes, Ceder suggested that the Netherlands should do more to prevent underage users from accessing online gambling or pornographic content.

Ceder’s proposal is also backed by Jesse Six Dijkstra, a representative of the New Social Contract party. This is not the lawmakers’ first attempt to introduce more stringent age restriction measures and follows an earlier measure filed in May.

Some Believe iGaming Should Be Banned

Ceder and Dijkstra’s proposal comes amid the continued failures to shield online gamblers from harm and properly protect vulnerable groups. These setbacks have convinced some lawmakers that the only possible way forward is to introduce stricter measures or ban online gambling altogether.

A few days ago, MPs Derk Boswijk and Diederik van Dijk launched Gambled and Lost, a motion that proposes a variety of amendments that would either limit iGaming or ban it for good. The measure was prompted by the concerning gambling harm rates in the Netherlands. The MPs alleged that the Remote Gambling Act (Koa) has normalized gambling and the exploitation of younger players for profit.

However, stricter measures have not had the intended effect either, instead pushing some players toward the dangerous black market. A recent study suggested that the Netherlands’ channelization rates are fairly stable but that the few players playing with offshore operators spend disproportionate amounts of money.