Dutch Regulator Revises Deposit Means Test Rules for Online Operators

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator, has issued revised guidance on financial means testing for online operators, making significant changes to how player deposit limits are assessed. These updates, aimed at strengthening player protection, notably reverse a previous recommendation regarding the inclusion of liquid assets in income calculations.

Revised Deposit Limit Assessment

Since October 1, 2024, Dutch licensed online gambling operators have been mandated to conduct a financial means test before allowing players to exceed certain deposit limits. These limits are set at €300 per month for players aged 18-23 and €700 per month for players aged 24 and over, as part of the sector’s duty-of-care regulations. If an operator cannot verify a player’s financial capacity for higher deposits, those deposits are blocked for the remainder of the calendar month.

The KSA announced on July 2, 2026, that the revision follows a second round of compliance checks involving 20 license holders, which examined real-world means-test scenarios. While many operators have improved their practices since the KSA’s initial good-and-bad-practices document in February 2025, shortcomings and breaches remain. The regulator reported conducting ten improvement conversations, issuing three formal warnings, and imposing one binding instruction based on these checks.

Exclusion of Liquid Assets

A key change in the updated guidance is the complete reversal of a previous recommendation that allowed operators to count 5% of a player’s liquid assets, averaged over 12 months, towards their monthly net deposit limit. The KSA has now clarified that structural income is the sole basis for calculation. Liquid assets, such as savings, and non-liquid assets, including business or home equity, must no longer be considered in this assessment. The KSA stated that its earlier wording on this matter had led to practical confusion among operators.

The updated document now outlines seven recommended good practices, an increase from six previously. While some recommendations have been carried over with minor changes, two new practices have been introduced. The KSA now advises operators to use multiple recent payslips or an average of cumulative pay, rather than relying on a single figure for income verification. A prior good practice that permitted separate daily and weekly limits alongside the monthly limit has been removed.

Increased Warnings Against Operator Practices

The number of practices the KSA explicitly warns against has expanded from seven to 13. Recurring issues include operators accepting a player’s self-declared income without verifiable documents like payslips or tax returns, and using a player’s highest payslip instead of a recent or average one. The updated list now includes several new examples of prohibited practices.

The KSA also specified that income from a partner or child, loans, and specific benefits such as child benefit or housing allowance must never be counted as a player’s income.

Key facts
| Aspect | Previous Guidance | Updated Guidance (July 2026) |
|—|—|—|
| Calculation Basis | Structural income, with a allowance for 5% of liquid assets | Structural income only |
| Liquid Assets | Could be partially counted towards deposit limits | Must not be counted |
| Income Verification | Less emphasis on multiple documents | Recommends multiple recent payslips or average cumulative pay |
| Number of Good Practices | Six | Seven |

Impact on Players and Operators

This revision signifies a more stringent approach by the KSA to ensure that deposit limits are genuinely reflective of a player’s disposable income. By excluding savings and other assets, the regulator aims to prevent players from depositing funds they may not be able to afford, thereby enhancing responsible gambling measures. Operators will need to adapt their internal systems and verification processes to comply with these updated requirements. The KSA has indicated it will continue to supervise operators’ application of the means test and conduct further sample checks against the new guidance.

Source: European Gaming, https://europeangaming.eu/portal/latest-news/2026/07/06/208834/ksa-tightens-deposit-means-test-rules-for-dutch-operators/

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