The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA for its Dutch acronym) has committed to continuing the Prevention of Gambling Addiction program, designed to increase the regulator’s knowledge of gambling-related problems and assist in delivering industry-wide decisions.
According to the watchdog, more needs to be done to improve knowledge development as well as the implementation of best practices and the existing infrastructure that could help to make gambling safer. The initiative is spearheaded by the KSA and partner ZonMw, whose heads met last week to discuss further steps into the program.
KSA outlines plans for helping improve knowledge on problem gambling
To ensure that the program has the means necessary, a new tranche of €21m is being allocated to the program, as the initiative seeks to improve prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm and gambling addiction.
KSA Chairman Michel Groothuizen has welcomed the opportunity to bolster player protection in the market, which has long been a priority for the regulator.
"By continuing this program, we are joining forces to gather more essential knowledge on this topic, so we can prevent gambling harm as much as possible," Groothuizen added.
ZonMw General Director Véronique Timmerhuis was similarly pleased with the opportunity and welcomed the chance to further develop the infrastructure needed to help prevent gambling-related harm:
"It's good that this program focused on gambling addiction is being continued. Much knowledge development is still needed to develop effective approaches and to ensure those approaches are effectively implemented in practice."
She hailed ZonMw’s own role in the initiative, citing the organization’s expertise in mental healthcare domains, and assisting in the development of the knowledge base needed to continue helping people in the future.
Renewed push seeks to strengthen treatment and prevention options
There are five work packages around which the KSA and ZonMw will focus, including Vulnerable players, game characteristics and player behavior, Prediction, risk factors, early detection and prevention, Practice: Diagnosis, intervention and treatment, Experience, participation and the social domain, and Umbrella knowledge infrastructure.
This renewed push in understanding gambling-related harm is set to continue between 2025 and 2030 and focus on accumulating a deeper understanding of the development of treatment options and the prevention of gambling-related harm.
"ZonMw aims to ensure that people experiencing problems due to gambling receive help sooner and more effectively by implementing the developed knowledge in a targeted manner," a translated statement on the regulator said.
