The Netherlands’ Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has announced a significant funding boost for its ongoing Prevention of Gambling Addiction program, developed in collaboration with health research organization ZonMw. Seeking to deepen understanding of gambling-related issues, the initiative will receive €21 million to finance independent research into preventing and treating gambling harm.
The enhanced program, titled Prevention of Gambling Addiction 2025 – 2030, builds on efforts initiated in 2022 following the regulation of online gambling in the Netherlands in 2021. It centers on five key work packages: vulnerable players, game characteristics and playing behavior; prediction, risk factors, early detection, and prevention; diagnostics, intervention, and treatment; experiential expertise, participation, and the social domain; and an overarching knowledge infrastructure.
KSA chair Michel Groothuizen and ZonMw managing director Véronique Timmerhuis formally launched the initiative, underscoring the urgent need for increased knowledge to combat gambling-related harm. Groothuizen stressed the importance of player protection, noting that the continuation of this program aligns with the KSA’s commitment to mitigating the adverse effects of gambling. “The protection of players is an important priority for the KSA. By continuing this program, we are joining forces to gain more necessary knowledge on this subject, so that we can prevent gambling damage as much as possible,” he stated.
Timmerhuis echoed the sentiment, highlighting the role of ongoing research in developing effective strategies and ensuring their practical implementation. She emphasized ZonMw’s ability to integrate expertise from other mental health domains, fostering a collaborative approach to tackling gambling addiction. “Step by step, we are working on knowledge to better help people with addiction in the future,” she added.
The program’s funding derives from the Addiction Prevention Fund, which is financed through a levy on gambling operators and managed by the KSA. This financial support will enable ZonMw to fund three long-term thematic consortia during the first subsidy round of the new phase. In addition to focusing on translating knowledge into practice, the program aims to stimulate collaboration between researchers and practitioners and align field assignments with KSA policy priorities.
Recent projects under the program took center stage at the international conference Current Advances in Gambling Research held in Amsterdam last year. As these projects prepare to deliver results in the coming year, the broader impact of the program’s continuation becomes increasingly apparent.
However, the Dutch gambling sector faces broader uncertainties due to recent political developments. The resignation of Teun Struycken as legal protections secretary, following the government’s veto on sanctions against Israel, has cast doubt over proposed gambling reforms. Struycken’s departure comes in the context of an early general election, set for October, after the collapse of the governing coalition. The political instability raises questions about the future direction of the gambling industry and could influence regulatory priorities.
Despite these challenges, the KSA remains steadfast in its mission to protect consumers and ensure a safer gambling environment. By investing in research and prevention, the regulator aims to address the root causes of gambling harm and develop evidence-based interventions that can be effectively implemented across the sector.
Critics, however, argue that while research and prevention are crucial, they must be supported by robust regulatory measures and industry accountability. Some stakeholders suggest that the KSA should focus more on enforcing existing regulations and holding operators accountable for breaches, in addition to investing in research.
As the Dutch gambling landscape continues to evolve, the ongoing collaboration between KSA and ZonMw represents a proactive step towards understanding and mitigating gambling-related harm. By prioritizing both prevention and treatment, the program seeks to create a more comprehensive framework for addressing the complex challenges posed by gambling addiction.
Looking ahead, the success of the Prevention of Gambling Addiction 2025 – 2030 program will depend on its ability to effectively translate research findings into actionable strategies that resonate with both the industry and affected individuals. As the program advances, stakeholders will eagerly anticipate the insights and innovations that emerge from this significant investment in public health.
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