On April 4, 2024, the gaming authority of the Dutch regulatory market, the Kansperautoritate (KSA), released its official monitoring report on the performance of the Dutch gaming industry in 2023. The report by the regulator was the sixth since legal gaming operations began in the Netherlands, showing an increase in online gambling operations in 2023. However, the industry's revenue grew at a significantly slower pace than in 2022 after deducting the total results of games (GGR), or winnings paid to bettors, to show that the Dutch gambling market is growing "less strongly than in other countries," according to the KSA press release.
1.39 billion euros GGR:
The regulator's sixth monitoring report on online gambling is based primarily on revenue figures. Thus, the Dutch gaming industry achieved a total gaming result of 1.39 billion euros in 2023, according to the press release. Compared to the 1.08 billion GGR figure reached in 2022, the latest annual results were almost 29% higher. However, the gaming industry has grown faster throughout 2022 than through 2023, leveling the rate growth, according to the KSA. Finally, the second half of 2023 reportedly testified about flat market trends.
1.1 million accounts:
Authorities have reported an increase in the number of accounts on the market, but the number of occasional gamblers is roughly the same. As reported, the number of accounts in 2023 is 1.1 million compared to 970,000 registered in the previous year, which is about 13% more. Players can open accounts with game operators, so the reported number of accounts and players testifies to a pool of players in 2023, similar to the previous year. The KSA estimates that in the second half of 2023, around 448,000 players per month played a large portion of the accounts, with around 726,000 online gamblers.
Slack Growth:
While the above 2023 H2 figures show that around 5% of the Dutch adult population gambled online during the period, the discrepancy between the number of active accounts and the number of players supports the KSA's claim of sluggish growth in the market. These active players reportedly lost €958 on average during the busier second half of 2023, or €160 per month each compared to €170 on average in the first half of 2023.
Young adults with 22% of accounts:
According to regulators, young people also took part in gambling during the period. The monitoring report paid particular attention to the 18-23 year old group, as it makes up 9.5% of the population. Still, 22% of all accounts held by the group in 2023 are said to reflect nearly the 2022 rate and display nearly the same number of players over the past two years. The group also spent an average of 52 euros per month, more than three times less than its 24+ population. 릴게임
Maintain safe game target rates:
Another important part of the report is to refer to safe gaming environments in jurisdictions. Since the launch of the online gambling business in the Netherlands, the market has remained within the target range for at least 80% of players to gamble with legal operators, according to the KSA channeling strategy. The percentage was around 90% in 2023, according to the press release. Additionally, the July 2023 ad ban proved effective in demonstrating a safe environment in the Dutch online gaming market, which is currently seeking stronger growth.