KVA finds illegal gambling affiliate pages targeting Cruks searches
Regulation2 min read
The Keurmerk Verantwoorde Affiliates said a review found 10 pages promoting illegal gambling or explaining ways around Cruks among Google’s first four results pages; two appeared on the first page. It cited monthly search volumes totalling 7,520 across three related terms, while noting these do not represent distinct people or confirmed visits to illegal casinos. The KVA expects further research results later in November 2026.
Dutch affiliate body Keurmerk Verantwoorde Affiliates (KVA) said it found ten pages offering illegal gambling or information on circumventing Cruks, the Netherlands' gambling exclusion register, within Google's first four pages of results. Two appeared on the first results page, although rankings can vary by user and reflect a snapshot in time.
KVA said the affiliate sites first explain how to end an exclusion, then recommend casinos without Cruks checks using offers and links. Affiliates can receive payment for directing visitors to gambling providers.
Using SEMrush data, KVA put the combined monthly search volume for three Dutch terms about ending a Cruks exclusion at 7,520. The respective monthly volumes were 4,400 for ‘Cruks opzeggen’, 2,400 for ‘Cruks eerder opzeggen’ and 720 for ‘Cruks gokstop opzeggen’. The total does not represent distinct people, and the number of searches leading to visits to illegal casinos has not been established. Searches for terms such as ‘casino zonder Cruks’ were excluded from the count.
People on the Cruks register cannot be admitted to Dutch-licensed gambling sites, gaming arcades or casinos. The KSA says an exclusion lasts at least six months, with an eight-day waiting period for early termination after those first six months. An exclusion ends automatically when the chosen registration period expires.
KVA warned that people seeking to end an exclusion could include players who need protection because of gambling problems. It said such a search does not automatically indicate problem gambling. Two months earlier, KVA warned that parties promoting illegal casinos were influencing Google's search suggestions.
KVA is conducting further research into Cruks-related searches, the visibility of illegal affiliates and possible measures against them, with results expected later in November 2026.