CRUKS Exceeds 100,000 Registrations

Dutch Self-Exclusion Register for Gambling Reaches 100,000 Registrations

Three years and ten months after the introduction of the Central Register for the Exclusion of Games of Chance (Cruks), the register has surpassed 100,000 entries. Over 100,000 Dutch individuals have chosen to exclude themselves from participating in online and land-based games of chance for a minimum of six months.

In its most recent annual report, the Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) noted that the average registration duration has increased to 32 years. Fewer people are opting for the shortest possible exclusion period of six months.

However, the Gaming Authority’s monitoring report for spring 2025 indicates that the majority of registrations are new. Of those registered in Cruks in March 2025, 56% had been in the register for less than six months. This suggests that as people are removed from Cruks (either automatically or manually), they are quickly replaced by other gamblers seeking exclusion, leading to a continuous increase in registrations.

Half of the individuals registered in Cruks are under 32 years old. Young adults account for approximately 16% of all Cruks registrations. The Gaming Authority notes that the proportion of young adults in Cruks is lower than their representation among player accounts at legal gambling sites.

Nearly Four Years to Reach 100,000 People in Cruks

Following initial startup challenges, Dutch residents were first able to register with Cruks in early October 2021. This allowed them to indicate their desire to abstain from online games of chance and simultaneously denied them access to physical casinos.

It took five months for Cruks to reach 10,000 registrants. The next milestone was quickly achieved, with the number of registrations doubling by July 31, 2022.

In the second quarter of 2023, Cruks exceeded 50,000 registrations. By the end of 2024, the count stood at 85,000. On March 4, 2025, 90,000 people had excluded themselves from games of chance, with the number then climbing towards 100,000. On July 24, the register displayed a six-digit number for the first time since its introduction: 100,060.

“The Gaming Authority does not aim to have as many people as possible register in Cruks, but we see that the exclusion register is an important tool for problem gamblers to protect themselves. People with gambling problems can easily request a gambling stop, and we continue to strive to further increase awareness of the register and the gambling stop.”

Bernadette van Buchem, Vice-Chairman of the Gaming Authority.

If you feel you no longer have your gambling under control, you can register with Cruks (Central Register Exclusion Games of Chance) via the official Cruks Register website. Once registered for this gambling stop, you can no longer play at land-based and online casinos. Cruks is a tool, not the ultimate solution. Seek help if you cannot resolve the issue alone.