KSA urges “Gambling Interpol” to target unlicensed online operators

Illegal online gambling is ramping up globally—while regulators struggle.

Michel Groothuizen, chair of the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has proposed creating a global “gambling Interpol” to unify enforcement efforts across borders.

From my vantage as a gambling-industry regulation analyst, this signals a turning point. Operators and regulators must rethink how they fight international unlicensed networks.

Read on—I’ll break down Groothuizen’s proposal, why it matters for the industry and what I believe should happen next.

Key Points

• KSA chair Michel Groothuizen spoke at the International Association of Gambling Regulators (IAGR) conference in Toronto, calling for an international enforcement network.
• He framed the challenge as “battling a 21st-century war with medieval tech,” highlighting how dated regulatory tools are outpaced by illegal operators.
• The Netherlands’ channelisation rate (licensed vs unlicensed gambling) reportedly fell below 50 %, signalling that illegal operators have gained ground.
• The proposed “gambling Interpol” would aim to share intelligence, coordinate investigations and partner with tech and payments firms.
• This move underscores growing global recognition that national enforcement alone cannot contain borderless online gambling networks.

From where I sit in the gaming-regulation world, Michel Groothuizen’s call for a global “gambling Interpol” is more than rhetoric—it’s a strategic signal that the model for dealing with unlicensed online gambling must evolve.

Why the Call Matters

Illegal online gambling is not just a domestic challenge anymore. In markets like the Netherlands, regulators face operators streaming across borders, changing domains rapidly and exploiting regulatory arbitrage. As Groothuizen put it: the legal regime is “battling a 21st-century war with medieval tech.” The mismatch is clear.

Consider that the Netherlands initially aimed to channel most gambling spend into licensed platforms after its 2021 opening. Yet recent reports suggest the channelisation rate by GGR fell below 50 %—meaning nearly half the spend flows to unlicensed operators.  That erosion affects revenue, consumer protection and operator viability.

By proposing a “gambling Interpol,” Groothuizen essentially calls for a structural upgrade: not isolated national policing, but a networked, intelligence-driven, tech-enabled enforcement ecosystem.

What This Could Look Like

In practical terms, such a framework might include:

• Shared intelligence databases of illegal operators, domains and payment chains.
• Coordination among national regulators to freeze assets, block domains and enforce sanctions across jurisdictions.
• Collaboration with technology companies and payment processors to disrupt the ecosystem supporting unlicensed gambling.
• Standard-setting for enforcement protocols and regulatory tools, similar to anti-money-laundering networks or cyber-crime task forces.

This is not hypothetical. The KSA already engages in partnerships (for example with regional crime task-forces) to tackle illegal gambling. What Groothuizen is advocating is to elevate that to a European—and eventually global—streamlined framework.

Implications for Operators and Regulators

From my analytical perspective, the implications are significant for both licensed operators and regulators. Licensed companies must recognise that unlicensed competition may be increasingly targeted—and that regulatory regimes may tighten globally. They should expect increased data-sharing, cross-border investigations, and possibly regulatory burdens to ensure compliance.

Regulators, in turn, must invest in technology, intelligence and cooperative models. National frameworks will increasingly require external coordination rather than solo action.

For example: operators with multi-jurisdictional footprints will need vigilance in each domain. A site admissible in one country may still fall under enforcement if the network is flagged elsewhere. This raises cost and compliance implications.

My Take

In my view, Groothuizen’s proposal is timely and necessary. The speed and scale of technology-enabled illegal operations outpace individual national regulators. A networked enforcement mechanism is overdue.

However, building it will be challenging. Legal frameworks differ, jurisdictions guard sovereignty and data-sharing is complex. But starting with a Europe-wide cooperative then scaling globally is a practical path. Groothuizen himself suggested: “first Europe-wide, then perhaps worldwide.”

For licensed operators, now is the time to prepare. Strengthen compliance, engage regulators proactively and anticipate regulatory evolution. For regulators, it’s time to build bridges, not just local policy silos.

The chair of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, Michel Groothuizen, has issued a bold call: regulators must form a global “gambling Interpol” to combat unlicensed online operators operating across borders.

In my professional view, the move reflects a growing realisation that national enforcement alone cannot keep pace with agile, cross-border illegal gambling networks. The licensed sector must prepare for stronger, coordinated enforcement. Meanwhile regulators must embrace collaboration, intelligence-sharing and forward-looking frameworks.

As the industry evolves, the era of jurisdictional isolation is ending—cooperative global oversight may become the new norm.

Tags: KSA, GamblingInterpol, IllegalGambling, OnlineGamblingRegulation, CrossBorderEnforcement

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