Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has stated that the public sees gambling as just another thread of the social fabric.

The authority conducted a survey with a pool of 1,000 people to examine the current attitudes towards the sector among citizens, which were then fed into the KSA’s ‘OpenOverGokken’ platform – a 24/7 anonymous helpline for people with gambling problems.

Results showed that 24% of respondents and their social circles consider gambling to be a natural part of their everyday lives. Meanwhile, 22% of the surveyed confirmed they know someone who gambles.

One in five (18%) in the report said they “regularly” hear people discuss gambling as a way of making money more quickly. Interestingly though, more men (32%) than women (16%) see nothing wrong with gambling.

KSA calls for change in attitudes

However, the KSA warned that while the sector is regulated for a reason and should be enjoyed in moderation, the normalisation of gambling could make it more difficult for people with gambling problems to open up about it.

Almost all respondents (75%) said that they see gambling harm as the result of bad decisions made by the victims themselves, which signals a strong need to shift the conversation in another direction. 

There’s also the 43% of gamblers who said they would do so less often if no one else around them did, which among other things could also be interpreted as inability to control their behaviour.

A total of 29% said they are certain they wouldn’t tell anyone if they experienced problem gambling, while 34% of respondents would not say anything to someone they think has a problem with gambling. 

The misunderstanding of problem gamblers becomes even more evident when you see that 76% of respondents think that gambling addiction is invisible.

Michel Groothuizen, KSA Chairman, concluded: “Gambling problems rarely develop overnight and often remain unnoticed for a long time. This is partly because gambling is often seen as normal behavior in the community. 

“This can make it difficult to recognize when gambling becomes problematic, let alone to discuss it. As our previous research also showed, there is still a persistent taboo surrounding talking about gambling and gambling problems. As a result, people who experience gambling problems themselves often hesitate to ask for help. 

“A first step can be to talk about it with someone you trust, such as a partner, family member, or friend. For those who feel that step is too daunting, it’s also possible to first seek information online in a relaxed atmosphere. 

“As a regulator, we believe it’s our social responsibility to ensure that reliable information and support are accessible to everyone, and that no one has to face it alone.”