Background: Gambling Sector Reform

Purpose of this session

This session focuses on gambling related harm as experienced by individuals, families and communities, and on whether the proposed public protection framework responds to those realities.

The Government wants to hear from organizations that work directly with people facing addiction, mental health, financial, family or social difficulties, as well as organizations working with seniors, young people and vulnerable communities.

The session will test whether the draft creates the right protections and where additional implementation, treatment, referral, awareness or community support is needed.

Building on the 2025 stakeholder engagement

The 2025 stakeholder engagement included mental health professionals and identified concerns about problem gambling, limited treatment capacity, low awareness of self exclusion, the impact on families, staff training, protection of minors and the visibility and accessibility of gambling.

The current consultation deliberately broadens that discussion to include a wider range of community, faith based and support organizations.

What we would like to discuss

• • gambling related harm to individuals, families and communities
• • barriers to asking for help and gaps in treatment or referral
• • voluntary self-exclusion from casino gambling and practical support after exclusion
• • protection of minors, young adults, seniors and other vulnerable groups
• • advertising, accessibility and the normalization of gambling
• • public awareness and community education
• • family, debt, mental health and social support needs
• • how community organizations can connect with the future regulatory and prevention framework

Relevant parts of the draft Kansspelenverordening

Articles 7 and 8 on prevention and consumer protection, Article 13 on voluntary exclusion, Articles 15 and 16 on casino access and intervention, Articles 23, 27 and 28 on location and lottery public protection, and relevant public information and prevention tasks under Article 50 of the consultation version of the draft Kansspelenverordening dated 23 October 2026.

What we will explain and share

• • the prevention and player protection measures in the draft
• • the proposed voluntary self-exclusion register for casino gambling, and why involuntary exclusion is not part of the current draft framework
• • the duties of casino and lottery operators to protect players and provide information
• • the limits of the Gambling Authority's role in treatment and social support
• • the need for cooperation with health, social and community organizations

Key questions for consultation

1. 1. Do the proposed player protection and prevention measures address the forms of gambling related harm seen in Sint Maarten's communities?
2. 2. What practical support, treatment and referral pathways should exist for people who experience gambling related harm and for their families?
3. 3. Which groups may require additional protection or tailored communication, and are the proposed protections for minors and vulnerable people sufficient?
4. 4. What role can community, faith based and support organizations play in awareness, early identification, referral and ongoing support?

Who we would like to have at the table

We particularly welcome participants with direct responsibility or expertise in:

• • addiction and mental health care
• • psychological and social support
• • family and victim support
• • community development
• • senior support and recreational services
• • faith based community work
• • youth and vulnerable family support
• • debt, social assistance and referral

Expected outcome

Capture lived and professional experience of gambling related harm, identify gaps in the proposed protection framework and define practical implementation needs outside the regulator itself.

How the input will be used

Feedback from the session will be assessed together with written responses received through the wider public consultation. Depending on the nature of the input, it may inform further refinement of the draft Kansspelenverordening, the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum, future secondary regulation, implementation arrangements or cooperation protocols. Participation does not imply that all views or recommendations will necessarily be incorporated into the final legislation.

Practical information

Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026.

The session is part of the targeted stakeholder consultation. Organizations will be invited directly. Other interested stakeholders may participate in the wider public consultation and may register their interest in the stakeholder process through the consultation website.

Participation in a targeted session is not required in order to submit comments through the public consultation.