The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Ksa) has updated its “good and bad practices” regarding the implementation of the financial affordability check. These adjustments follow a follow-up study into how online gambling operators verify whether players’ gambling behavior aligns with their financial means.

Since October 2024, online operators have been required to conduct an affordability check when players wish to make net deposits exceeding €300 (for young adults aged 18 to 24) or €700 (for those aged 24 and older). This check aims to prevent players from spending more money on gambling than is responsible.

The Ksa first published an overview of good and bad practices for conducting affordability checks in February 2025. Subsequently, the Ksa conducted a follow-up study involving 20 licensees, performing spot checks and evaluating specific affordability assessments. The Ksa is pleased to conclude that the good and bad practices have prompted many operators to positively adjust their methods for conducting these checks. At the same time, areas for improvement and violations were identified. In total, the Ksa issued ten “improvement discussions,” three warnings, and one binding instruction to various operators.

The findings from the follow-up study have been incorporated into an updated version of the good and bad practices. With this update, the Ksa aims to provide operators with greater clarity regarding the correct implementation of the affordability check. Among other things, the new version clarifies that liquid assets—such as savings—must not be included in the affordability assessment; the assessment must be based on the player’s structural income. In practice, the previous explanation regarding this matter led to confusion among operators.

The correct application of the financial affordability check remains a key priority for the Ksa. The check helps prevent players from gambling more money than they can afford, thereby contributing to the protection of vulnerable players.

The Ksa will continue to monitor the implementation of the financial affordability check and, in light of these refined ‘good’ and ‘bad’ practices, will once again conduct spot checks on licence holders.