Since October 2024, online operators have been required to carry out an affordability check when players wish to deposit more than €300 (for young adults aged 18 to 24) or €700 (for players aged 24 and older). The purpose of this check is to prevent players from spending more on gambling than is considered responsible.
Follow-up Research
In February 2025, the Ksa first published an overview of good and bad practices for affordability checks. Subsequent follow-up research involved sample reviews of 20 licensed operators, assessing actual affordability checks. The Ksa concluded that many operators had positively adjusted their procedures thanks to the guidance. However, shortcomings and violations were also identified. In total, the Ksa conducted ten improvement discussions, issued three warnings, and delivered one binding instruction.
Greater Clarity
The findings have been incorporated into an updated version of the good and bad practices, aimed at providing operators with clearer guidance. Among the clarifications: liquid assets such as savings may not be included in affordability checks. Assessments must be based on the player’s structural income. Previous explanations had caused confusion among operators in practice.
Ongoing Supervision
The proper application of affordability checks remains a priority for the Ksa. These checks help prevent players from gambling beyond their means and contribute to protecting vulnerable players. The Ksa will continue monitoring implementation and, based on the revised practices, will carry out new sample reviews among licensed operators.
