Four New Projects Funded by KSA to Tackle Dutch Problem Gambling

The Dutch gambling regulator (KSA) has announced a wave of fresh funding pledges in a bid to bolster public awareness of risks related to problem gambling.

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) announced its Addiction Prevention Fund (VPF) drive earlier this week. It stated that it will support four educational programs, prioritizing its commitment to tackling gambling-related risks.

The VPF: What It Does and How It’s Funded

First established in 2021, the VPF is partly financed by the supplementary charge placed on gaming operators who offer higher-risk gambling products. These funds are allocated to programs targeting harm prevention and education, particularly centered around protecting vulnerable gamblers.

Its remit includes financing support initiatives that focus on healthcare professionals, students, athletes, and individuals with low literacy levels or intellectual disabilities. Each program is tailored to its desired audience, which the KSA claims will create lasting behavioral changes.

At the forefront of the KSA’s itinerary is the planned expansion of its digital e-learning modules devised by Dutch addiction service Jellinek and training provider GGZ Ecademy. This involves active collaborations with frontline health workers, such as doctors and psychologists, to help identify signs of gambling addiction in patients earlier.

The directive was unveiled at a well-attended webinar, explaining how the new funding will promote the program across the Netherlands’ healthcare networks. By equipping healthcare professionals with the attributes to recognize gambling-related harm earlier, the KSA believes they can prevent the problem from escalating. 

KSA to Use an Assortment of Targeted Programs to Avert Problem Gambling

The action plan will also mean schools will play a larger role in the regulator’s prevention efforts. Entitled “Helder op School” (Clear at School), the KSA program has been developed closely with the Trimbos Institute, which now includes education modules on the dangers associated with gambling.

New materials will be distributed among teaching staff and at parental information meetings to highlight the growing risks children face. The ultimate objective is to educate both students and their guardians simultaneously.

Additionally, the Association of Contract Players (VVCS) will ramp up its integrations with footballers. This directive will see increased funds applied to train recovering addicts to deliver peer-to-peer awareness sessions and distribute flyers about self-exclusion methods and digital tools like Gamban.

Designed to offer opportunities for earlier intervention, the KSA plans also to roll out the VVCS initiative across youth clubs and academies nationwide.

Finally, the KSA will fund a new project to further engage with people with cognitive impairments using its digital platform, Steffie.nl. Scheduled for completion in autumn 2025, its four gambling educational units will provide simplified tutoring on topics including “What is Gambling?” and “Recognising gambling games.”

While regulators such as the Secretary of Prizes and Betting Secretariat (SPA) in Brazil attempt to balance public safety and industry growth, the KSA’s latest initiative signals that they believe education will be the first line of defense.

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 The Dutch gambling regulator (KSA) has announced a wave of fresh funding pledges in a bid to bolster public awareness of risks related to problem gambling. The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) announced its Addiction Prevention Fund (VPF) drive earlier this week. It stated that it will support four educational programs, prioritizing its commitment to tackling gambling-related risks.
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