Online casinos Netherlands: guide Dutch gambling market
While this policy played a key role during the market’s opening phase, it is now largely considered a transitional measure, as most major international operators have since obtained licences and re-entered the regulated Dutch market. One of the main reasons to regulate the market was to actually offer consumer protection and avoid illegal operators targeting Dutch players. Although the market for online gambling in Holland was legalised relatively late in October 2021, Dutch players had been massively visiting online casinos even before the legal market was opened. After a more than 24 hour delay the first legal online casinos opened their virtual doors on the 2nd of October 2021.
In some cases, estimates suggest that less than 50% of total gambling revenue is generated through licensed operators, pointing to continued activity on illegal websites. Channelisation refers to the percentage of players who gamble with licensed operators instead of illegal websites. In addition, search behaviour and online visibility data suggest Koko Casino that illegal gambling providers remain highly accessible to Dutch players.
This highlights a key limitation of survey-based measurements, as players may not always be aware whether a platform is licensed or not. More recent insights from the Dutch Gambling Authority (Ksa) and industry stakeholders indicate that channelisation based on gross gaming result (BSR) may be significantly lower. Since the regulation of online gambling in 2021, the Dutch government has aimed for a channelisation rate of at least 80%, meaning that the majority of players should gamble with licensed providers. The Dutch government set a target of 80% channelisation within three years, aiming to ensure that the majority of players participate in the regulated market. This strategy is known as channelisation, the process of directing players from unlicensed to licensed gambling providers.
Cruks (Self-Exclusion Register)
- The official decision confirming the Act’s implementation was eventually published in the government gazette, clarifying that April 1, 2021, would be the date when the Dutch online gambling market would be regulated.
- This is partly explained by lower average income levels, but also reflects the impact of stricter player protection measures targeting this age group.
- Licensed operators must check Cruks before granting access to their games.
- After the Dutch gambling authority Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) granted the first licences on the 29th of September 2021, the first regulated online casinos opened their virtual doors in the Netherlands on the 2nd of October 2021.
- Gambling is legal in the Netherlands under the Betting and Gambling Act 1964 which is a law that was made in the 60’s to regulate gambling.
- Online sports betting was the most popular form of online gambling, with 4% of the Dutch population aged 16 and older participating in the past year.
- There are a few online casinos that have made a very solid impression so far.
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Since the legalisation of online gambling in the Netherlands in October 2021, gambling ads have faced ongoing pressure. These updated rules reflect the ongoing shift towards a more controlled and safer online gambling market in the Netherlands. The Dutch Gambling Authority (Ksa) now applies stricter requirements for licence applications and renewals, with a stronger focus on duty of care, player protection, and responsible gambling policies. In June 2016, the bill was finally discussed in the House of Representatives and the law was passed on July 7, 2016.
Types of Licences
Before the legalisation of the online gambling market in the Netherlands on October 1, 2021, the size of the illegal online gambling market was estimated at approximately €750 million per year in 2020. Being written in a time when the internet didn’t exist, the law was obviously outdated by the time the first online casinos emerged. More recently, some licensed operators have also chosen to leave the market due to stricter regulations, advertising restrictions, and increasing tax pressure. This makes channelisation a key topic in discussions about the effectiveness of Dutch gambling regulation.
