As Brazil moves forward in regulating sports betting and iGaming, observing international experiences can offer valuable lessons. One of the most recent and relevant examples comes from the Netherlands, where the regulatory body Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) implemented a series of restrictive and protective measures in 2025, combining regulation, harm prevention, and rigorous oversight.
Analyzing the Dutch model helps to visualize paths and risks for the Brazilian market, especially with these new online casinos in New Zealand.
Dutch regulatory framework and control environment
The Netherlands regulated its online betting market in 2021 and has since been refining rules to prevent abuse, protect vulnerable players, and ensure transparency. By 2025, KSA has strengthened controls on advertising, licensing, operator monitoring, and addiction prevention.
Among the main recent measures are: a ban on unrestricted advertising, a prohibition on sports sponsorships by gaming operators, a requirement for exit plans for licensed companies, deposit limits and responsible gaming policies, as well as heavy penalties for those who violate the rules.
By 2026, the new set of requirements will be even more stringent: those applying for license renewal or starting operations will have to present a regulatory risk assessment, demonstrations of compliance, a decommissioning plan, and a clear governance strategy. These rules show that the regulator is not only concerned with opening the market, but also with its long-term sustainability.
Protecting players and combating addiction: a Dutch priority.
Another important distinguishing feature is the focus on preventing harm and addiction. This year, the KSA allocated almost €2 million to create a national alliance, the National Alliance for Early Detection of Gambling Harm (SVSG), which brings together addiction experts, health services, debt support, and municipal governments, with the aim of detecting early signs of problems and offering support.
It is estimated that around 209,000 people in the Netherlands are at high risk of gambling addiction, but most have never sought help. SVSG aims to change this scenario through awareness campaigns, psychological care, social support, and rehabilitation programs.
These initiatives assume that regulation is not enough; an integrated system of prevention and care is necessary, something that few regulations worldwide address with such seriousness.
Transparency, compliance and operator accountability
In the regulated Dutch market, operating legally requires a commitment to compliance, social responsibility, and financial transparency. With the new requirements for 2025, licenses will only be granted to operators who demonstrate governance, an exit plan, anti-money laundering controls, and clear responsible gaming policies.
Penalties for those who disregard the rules have also been strengthened: the KSA’s new “general fines policy,” in effect since January 1, 2025, provides for heavy sanctions for infractions ranging from irregular advertising to non-compliance with prevention standards. This balance between market openness and regulatory rigor makes the betting environment safer for the consumer and more predictable for the state and the private sector.
Recent results and challenges observed
The changes did not come without cost. In 2025, the Netherlands recorded a 16% drop in gross revenue from regulated online gambling, a decline attributed to advertising restrictions, deposit limits, and increased taxes on the sector. Part of this impact may also be linked to the migration of gamblers to the illegal market, a consequence predicted by regulators in their own report.
The KSA acknowledges that higher taxes and stricter regulations could indirectly favor the black market, a relevant warning for any country undergoing regulation.
Furthermore, the Dutch regulatory authority acknowledged in 2025 that the existing risk assessment system for protecting players, based on methods that varied from operator to operator, was ineffective and inconsistent.
This led to a complete overhaul of the regulatory model. This data shows that regulation doesn’t guarantee automatic success: it requires flexibility, constant monitoring, and a willingness to adjust rules as the market evolves.
Limitations of applying the Dutch model in Brazil
While the lessons from the Netherlands are valuable, not everything is immediately adaptable to the Brazilian reality. Cultural differences, market size, regulatory structure, and economic context are significant.
Furthermore, the Netherlands has a centralized management system, a tradition of effective regulation, and institutional capacity for intensive oversight—elements that in Brazil may require time, investment, and coordination between federative entities.
There is also the risk of the illegal market gaining strength if the rules are too restrictive or the taxes too high, which would make the protection effort counterproductive. Finally, the social and awareness-raising aspect demands continuous investment in education, mental health, and public policies, something that requires long-term planning and adequate resources.
A path of learning and adaptation.
The Dutch experience of 2025 reveals that it is possible to regulate the online betting market in a way that balances economic opportunity, player protection, and social responsibility. The combination of oversight, marketing restrictions, compliance, support for vulnerable people, and rigorous regulation demonstrates that a healthy market depends less on unrestricted freedom and more on intelligent governance.
For Brazil, which is still developing its regulatory framework, these lessons are valuable. Adapting elements such as advertising control, consumer protection, compliance requirements, and prevention programs can help build a legal, sustainable, and responsible market.
