Dutch government to subsidise “public health” gambling research centre
Ministry of Justice and Security to support the Trimbos Instituut’s Gambling Expertise Centre with undisclosed funding
The Dutch government has offered funding towards the creation of a specialist gambling centre that will deliver a “public health problem” approach to academia and research on the sector.
The Gambling Expertise Centre will by launched by the Trimbos Instituut (the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), an independent body that researches mental health, alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
The new facility is being subsidised by Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security to further improve research projects into the sector.
According to the centre’s website, its modus operandi will be to “prevent and better treat gambling problems”.
The Trimbos Instituut added: “This concerns gambling-related problems in individuals, but also in relatives and the rest of society. Since 2021, online gambling has been legal in the Netherlands.
“The gambling landscape has changed significantly since then and many more online casinos have been added. Knowledge about gambling and the damage caused by gambling is still incomplete in the Netherlands.”
The Gambling Expertise Centre said it will provide policymakers and healthcare stakeholders with knowledge and insights, as well as publish information on its site for the public.
The government’s commitment to funding public health-first research into gambling came after a series of changes to the Dutch market since it went live in October 2021.
In July 2023, a host of advertising restrictions were implemented, while a €700 net deposit limit was introduced a few weeks ago.
The government has also confirmed it will launch investigations into the efficacy of a total ad ban and a removal of certain game elements in online slots to reduce risk.
The right-wing coalition has already committed to a tax hike on the sector to 37.8% by 2026, rising from its current rate of 30.5%.
Teun Struycken, the minister for legal protection, said: “This new platform, which is subsidised by the Ministry of Justice and Security, offers policymakers, researchers and healthcare professionals access to scientific knowledge about gambling.
“The centre was established to address the growing gambling problems by sharing knowledge that helps prevent and better treat gambling harms.
“Gambling can cause harm, both to the individual and to society. We must actively try to prevent this. Together we work on sustainable solutions.”
Anouk Tuijnman, a Trimbos Instituut gambling researcher, said: “Gambling damage is not easy to solve. But a lot can be achieved.
“A solid prevention policy and good research can help us to steer on the basis of figures and substantiation. That is of great importance in a sector where opinions sometimes differ greatly.”