Dutch Gaming Authority Targets Youth and Workplace Addiction with New Prevention Grants to Address Rising Risk

The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has awarded grants to five organizations to expand peer support, clinical addiction guidelines, and youth prevention programs.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 10:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from iGB

The Strategic Deployment of the Addiction Prevention Fund

The Dutch Gaming Authority, known as the KSA, has officially distributed grants to five specialized organizations to bolster the nation's gambling harm-prevention infrastructure. These projects are financed via the Verslavingspreventiefonds, a fund established in 2021 that derives its capital from an additional levy on providers of high-risk gambling products. The investment comes at a critical time, as current Dutch research indicates that 20% of the gambling population falls into moderate or high-risk addiction categories. The KSA’s latest funding round focuses on integrating prevention into existing health programs and expanding digital support networks for those unable to attend physical meetings.

Expanding Digital and Clinical Support Networks

Among the primary recipients, the Anonymous Gamblers Foundation (AGOG) will use the funding to pilot digital peer-support meetings and enhance the professional development of group facilitators. This digital expansion aims to reach individuals in remote areas or those who prefer the anonymity of an online setting. Simultaneously, the Dutch Association for Psychiatry (NVvP) has been tasked with developing new clinical guidelines for gambling and gaming addictions. These medical standards are a direct response to the "Gambling with Health" report and are intended to provide a standardized framework for psychiatric practice across the Netherlands.

Youth Prevention and Corporate Responsibility Pilots

The Trimbos Institute is spearheading two separate pilot programs aimed at early intervention. One initiative integrates gambling prevention into the "Growing Up in a Promising Environment" youth program, utilizing municipal partnerships and data monitoring to protect younger demographics. The second pilot focuses on the corporate sector, exploring methodologies for employers to identify early warning signs of gambling problems within their workforce. By improving referral pathways from the workplace to appropriate care facilities, the institute hopes to mirror the successful frameworks already in place for substance-use prevention.