The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has released updated guidance on the statutory means test for online gambling players this week. The revision clarifies how licensed operators must assess player affordability for monthly deposit limits exceeding €300 for adults under 25 and €700 for older players.
Income Assessment and Compliance Rules
Under the revised framework, operators must calculate deposit limits using only structural or recurring income. The KSA explicitly excludes liquid assets, savings, property equity, and one-off payments such as bonuses from affordability assessments. This correction addresses inconsistencies identified during recent inspections, where initial February 2025 wording led some license holders to overstate player income and raise limits beyond regulatory standards. The means test requirement has been active for online gambling operators licensed in the Netherlands since October 2024 as part of the duty of care framework.Following sample checks of 20 licensed operators, the regulator recorded persistent procedural gaps and issued ten improvement interviews, three formal warnings, and one binding instruction. The KSA plans to continue targeted oversight to verify full compliance with the tightened standards. The updated document also outlines recommended operational procedures for license holders.
Operators are advised to block company-initiated limit increases above €300 per month for players aged 18 to 24, regardless of declared earnings. For lower-income accounts, the guidance suggests applying a net income share below the standard 30 percent threshold. License holders may also permit a single deposit above the established limit before enforcing the hard cap, provided the means test remains pending.
All limit calculations must be fully documented and stored in player records.
An earlier October 2023 survey of 1,507 respondents noted that overall support for the deposit limit system increased from 76 percent to 82 percent over a two-year period.