Dutch Regulator Proposes Creation of a “Gambling Interpol” to Combat Illegal Operators

^{Pictured: Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the KSA}

Michel Groothuizen, head of the Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA), has proposed the creation of an international body to coordinate regulators’ efforts against unlicensed gambling operators, Next.io reports. Groothuizen unveiled the idea of a “Gambling Interpol” during the annual conference of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), held last week in Toronto, Canada.

According to Groothuizen, national regulators increasingly face challenges from illegal operators that operate across multiple jurisdictions, often beyond the reach of national law. He suggested establishing a pan-European enforcement framework that could eventually evolve into a global cooperation network.

Such a structure, he explained, would allow regulators to share intelligence, coordinate investigations, and take joint action against unlawful platforms.

The proposed system, Groothuizen added, should also include technology companies and payment providers, whose services are frequently exploited by unlicensed operators.

Groothuizen warned that illegal gambling sites “operate without restrictions, adapt quickly, and reappear under new domains,” while regulators remain constrained by national boundaries.

“We’re fighting a 21st-century war with medieval weapons,” he said, referring to the lack of modern enforcement tools available to national authorities.

The KSA chief also criticized the Dutch parliament’s decision to remove provisions allowing the regulator to block illegal gambling websites. According to him, the measure was scrapped over concerns about internet freedom, but its absence has weakened the country’s ability to curb the black market.

Groothuizen further acknowledged that stricter limits on advertising and player deposits within the legal market may have unintentionally strengthened offshore operators, drawing players away from the regulated sector.