KSA Chair Groothuizen Urges Establishment of a Global "Gambling Interpol"

Netherlands' Regulation and the Black Market Challenge

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) chair Michel Groothuizen used the platform of IAGR 2025 (21 October) to highlight one of the most pressing issues facing modern gambling markets: the persistence of the unlicensed sector. While the Netherlands launched its regulated online gambling market to curb illegal activity, the objective has been harder to meet than anticipated.

Regulatory Hurdles and Channelisation Rates

Groothuizen acknowledged that, despite high player use of licensed casino sites (over 90%), the GGR-based channelisation rate has dipped below 50 %. That means nearly half the gambling spend is feeding illegal operators. He added that decisions favouring internet freedom - such as avoiding IP blocks - have weakened enforcement efforts.

The Case for a "Gambling Interpol"

The standout proposal from the speech was the notion of building "a sort of gambling Interpol" to coordinate cross-border intelligence and enforcement against illegal gambling operators. Groothuizen recommended starting Europe-wide, then expanding globally. His argument: the illicit market is borderless, so regulatory cooperation should be too.

A New Era of Global Cooperation in Gambling Regulation

Groothuizen's remarks underscore a turning point in how regulators view the illegal gambling market - not merely as a domestic nuisance, but as a global ecosystem requiring collective action. The idea of a "gambling Interpol" remains in draft form, yet its conception signals a shift in mindset. If implemented, it could reshape regulatory collaboration and enforcement worldwide.