The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) has intensified its supervision of illegal gambling apps. Since the start of 2025, 20 apps have been removed from the app stores. The regulator calls on consumers to always report suspicious apps.

In the fight against illegal gambling, the Ksa is also focusing on tackling illegal gambling offers in app stores. This problem is becoming increasingly urgent, especially with the increasing number of apps that refer users to illegal websites. These websites are often also accessible to minors, which makes the situation even more worrying. Many of these apps are advertised via social media.
Illegal providers often use underhand techniques to convince consumers, for example by showing logos of licensed providers.

An app was recently reported in the App Store that misused the Holland Casino logo. It is also often advertised with a ‘normal’ game (in many cases a variant of ‘plinko’), but after downloading it is linked to illegal gambling websites.

In the past three months, the Ksa has had 20 of these apps removed, so that they are no longer available to users. It is very important to the Ksa that consumers continue to report these apps, so that this process can continue throughout the year. When reporting gambling advertising, it is essential that the name of the app in question that is being advertised is mentioned in the report.

In addition to reports from consumers, the Ksa is also increasingly receiving reports from industry associations and licensed casinos. For example, via Meld Vals Spel, a platform set up by the industry for reporting illegal gambling sites. Reports that come in via that platform are also investigated by the Ksa. The Ksa has working agreements with app stores to report illegal apps to them and then have them removed.

Example:While playing the game ‘Candy Crush’ you see an advertisement promoting gambling. In this advertisement you see a game called ‘Plinko’ where it seems as if you can win a lot of money. The advertisement ends with a button such as ‘Play now’. To report the app, it is important that you press this button, so that you are redirected to the Appstore or Playstore and see the name of the app in question. You can report this app to us via the report form (refers to another website).