Netherlands gambling participation returns to 2024 levels

Recent data from Ipsos I&O indicates that gambling participation in the Netherlands has returned to 2024 levels. Approximately 66% of Dutch citizens aged 16 and older participated in at least one form of gambling in the past twelve months, a decrease from the 69% recorded in 2025.

Lotteries remain the most popular form of gambling, with 54% of the population participating. Online gambling has seen a decline, with only 9% of respondents playing online compared to 12% in previous measurements. However, online gambling remains highly prevalent among young adults; 17% of 18-to-20-year-olds and 16% of 24-to-34-year-olds reported online participation.

While overall participation has stabilized, problematic behavior shows concerning trends. The proportion of players exhibiting light problematic gambling behavior rose from 7% in 2025 to 11% in the latest measurement. Additionally, 18% of online gamblers fall into moderate or high-risk categories. Regarding legality, while 67% of players use only licensed providers, 7% visit unlicensed websites, and 26% are unsure if their provider is legal.