The government wants to protect people who play games of chance from addiction and fraud. Family members and friends of gamblers can go here for information as well. Staff at the Gambling Help Centre can provide information about treatment for problematic gambling. People with a gambling problem can get help 24/7 by phone or online from the Gambling Help Centre. This can lead to debt problems or even a gambling addiction.
But sometimes gambling can get out of hand: people spend too much time on it or bet large amounts of money. Or maybe they like to bet on the occasional football match. The vast majority of gamblers in the Netherlands are people who from time to time enjoy going to a casino or buying a lottery ticket. For this reason gaming providers require a licence. It also seeks to fight money laundering by preventing illegal gambling. The government aims to protect them, whether they gamble in casinos or online, bet on sports or play the lottery. People who gamble can be vulnerable to addition or fraud.
