Netherlands removes 856 illegal gambling apps in nine months
Google and Apple removed 856 illegal gambling applications from their app stores during the first nine months of 2026, according to figures released by the Dutch government.
The figures were disclosed in written parliamentary responses dated November 10 concerning the Netherlands’ 2027 Justice and Security budget.
Of the 856 applications removed between January and September, 71 were taken down following reports from gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).
The remaining applications were removed independently by the technology companies.
The number of removals following KSA referrals has already exceeded the 33 recorded throughout 2025, when 1,021 illegal gambling applications were removed in total.
In 2024, 36 applications were removed, including 15 following reports from the regulator.
The KSA began reporting suspicious applications to Google in May 2025, having started similar cooperation with Apple in August 2024.
According to the government, both companies removed all applications formally reported by the regulator.
The crackdown targets applications offering unauthorised gambling services or directing consumers towards illegal online casinos.
The KSA has previously warned that some applications disguise gambling services as ordinary mobile games, while others misuse the branding of licensed Dutch gambling operators to attract customers.
The latest figures demonstrate the growing importance of app-store enforcement alongside traditional website blocking and financial restrictions against illegal gambling businesses.
