Online casinos Netherlands: guide Dutch gambling market
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.
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.
- Although violations lead to severe financial sanctions, unregulated online casinos have never been blocked online — and still remain accessible to most Dutch internet users.
- While the online segment remains significant, recent data suggests that growth has slowed due to stricter regulations and player protection measures.
- This highlights a key limitation of survey-based measurements, as players may not always be aware whether a platform is licensed or not.
- 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.
- On September 29, 2021 it was announced that 10 licences had been granted.
- In June 2016, the bill was finally discussed in the House of Representatives and the law was passed on July 7, 2016.
- The slowdown in 2024–2025 highlights the direct impact of stricter Dutch gambling regulation on market performance.
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In May 2013, 6 years before the final approval, the Remote Gambling Bill (Koa Act) was put on the agenda for the first time. For involuntary registration, a concerned party (e.g., a partner, family member, legal guardian, or gambling operator) can request registration through the Ksa. Licensed operators must check Cruks before granting access to their games. Since October 4, 2021, players can register with the Central Register for the Exclusion of Games of Chance (Cruks) to Koko Casino loyaliteitsprogramma en VIP-voordelen self-exclude from gambling for a minimum of six months at all legal providers, both online and land-based. Other key operators include TOTO Casino, Holland Casino Online, and Jack’s Casino.
October 2024: Mandatory Play Limits
Based on the most recent publicly available operator data (2023), Unibet was estimated to hold around 20% market share, followed by Bet365 and BetCity (approximately 17%). Overall, the Dutch gambling market is now characterised by a more balanced structure, with casino games (56%), lotteries (34%), and sports betting (10%) forming the core segments of the regulated industry. The slowdown in 2024–2025 highlights the direct impact of stricter Dutch gambling regulation on market performance. Within this market, online casino games accounted for approximately €1.1 billion, representing around 26% of the total market. The Dutch gambling market generated a total gross gaming result (GGR) of €4.3 billion in 2024, remaining stable compared to 2023 (source marketscan 2025 Ksa). The answer is YES.The Remote Gambling Bill allowing online games of chance to be offeren on betting sites was adopted in the Netherlands in February 2019 after almost a decade of debate and division.
Top online casino and betting sites Netherlands
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 that illegal gambling providers remain highly accessible to Dutch players.
Online Gambling Regulation in the Netherlands
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.
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April 1, 2021: New Gambling Law Comes Into Effect
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Although violations lead to severe financial sanctions, unregulated online casinos have never been blocked online — and still remain accessible to most Dutch internet users. When the plans for regulation became more concrete, the Gaming Authority was given full control to take action against online casinos and other betting sites that actively targeted Dutch players. This amount represented the total bets placed by Dutch players with unregulated online gambling operators.
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Types of Licences
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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.
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July 2023: Ban On Gambling Ads
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The most popular online casino games in the Netherlands are the lotto (67%), sports betting (23%), live sports betting (14%), scratch cards (13%) and slots (12%). 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. Another notable trend is that young adults are more likely to engage in sports betting, which represents a significantly larger share of their total gambling activity compared to other age groups. Young adults (aged 18–23) remain a key focus group within Dutch gambling regulation, as they are considered more vulnerable and therefore receive additional legal protection.
