A growing debt crisis among young people in Enschede, Netherlands has prompted local politician Meryam Sümer of the CDA (Christian Democratic Party) to call for national action to raise the minimum legal age for online gambling from 18 to 24.
She also called for tighter restrictions on buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) products and gambling advertising, according to local reporting in AD on Monday.
Youth debt and advertisements
According to recent municipal data cited by councillor and welfare worker Sümer, one in five young individuals in Enschede is currently in debt.
In 2025, the city recorded 12,145 reports of people experiencing problematic debt. Among these, 960 cases involved individuals at risk of eviction or disconnection of essential utilities.
The municipality actively engaged with approximately 4,000 residents facing financial difficulties, representing about one-third of cases, a notably higher engagement rate than the national average of around 20%.
Sümer highlighted the central role of easy credit options and widespread online gambling access in driving these financial challenges among Dutch youth.
She noted: “Many youngsters do not yet have the financial awareness to manage multiple subscriptions, instalment purchases and gambling offers appearing on social media and within mobile games,” warning that these factors combine to cause “serious problems” in the community.
Sümer also identified gambling advertisements as a running issue. The Netherlands has maintained stringent gambling advertising controls since 2013 through the Decree on Gambling Recruitment, Advertising and Addiction Prevention, which implemented a ban on gambling advertisements specifically in public places in 2022.
In addition, the mandate prohibits advertising aimed at individuals under 24. Despite this a recent study found that 31 of 277 Meta-platform adverts (11.2%) targeted age groups including those aged 18 to 23.
Gambling age increase to 24
In response to these trends, Sümer has urged for a legal increase in the minimum age for online gambling, from the current age of 18 to 24. While acknowledging that an outright ban on these products would be preferable, she admitted this is unlikely to be feasible in the near term.
“The key is to reduce temptations (‘verleidingen’),” she said, advocating for tighter regulation to shield youth from exposure that may lead to problematic gambling or debt accumulation.
Sümer is not the first to table an increase in gambling age. In February last year, former state secretary for legal protection Teun Struycken proposed increasing the age limit for online slots to 21. This would have been alongside an age restriction on overarching deposit limits.
This was not without its controversy. The Dutch gambling regulator (KSA)’s chairman warned against such changes, suggesting that youngsters would be more tempted towards the black market.
“We already see minors doing so. And for young people under 21, the illegal supply will still be accessible with a few mouse clicks, while they will no longer be able to enter legal parties, which must adhere to a strict duty of care,” he wrote in a blog in February 2025.
A phased approach?
A month later, a parliamentary debate ensued. Struycken suggested a phased approach to the age change to prevent youngsters being drawn to the black market.
In response to the conversation Christian Union leader Bikker has raised concerns about increasing the age limit for gambling, noting it would be difficult to enforce the age increase across one vertical like slots. She instead suggested a blanket age limit of 21 for all gambling.
Raising the minimum age for gambling and credit use to 24 would be unprecedented in Europe, where 18 is generally the accepted standard.
Councillor Sümer is urging other municipal representatives and political parties to press national lawmakers for reform.
Kathryn Evans
Kathryn covers bitesize breaking news with a primary focus on EMEA and US legislation. A proud North Walian, fluent Welsh speaker and lifelong Wrexham FC fan – long before Hollywood came calling.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/sustainable-gambling/netherlands-councillor-calls-higher-legal-gambling-age-youth-debt-spike/
