Dutch iGaming Licences Renewed as Market Nears Five-Year Mark
Jacob Mitchell 
Key Takeaways:
- The Dutch iGaming market approaches its five-year anniversary with initial licence renewals.
- Holland Casino, Bingoal, and TOTO Online secured new five-year operating terms.
- Several major operators' licences are set to expire on October 1, 2026.
- Regulatory changes include advertising bans and increased gambling tax rates.
- KSA and operators noted a decline in tax revenue following tax hikes.
- Some operators have later expiry dates due to delayed market entry.
The regulated Dutch igaming market is approaching a key milestone as the first five-year licences, issued ahead of the October 2021 market launch, are now coming up for renewal. Several major operators' Dutch igaming licences are due to expire on October 1, 2026, with some companies already confirming successful renewals.
Licence Renewals and Expiries
The initial batch of permits will begin expiring on October 1, 2026, marking five years since the market's inception. Following an announcement from the national gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) regarding the renewal of state-controlled Holland Casino's licence for another five years, other operators have also confirmed their licence renewal processes. Bingoal and TOTO Online, the latter operated by Nederlandse Loterij, have secured new five-year terms, which will commence on October 1.
The licences for major operators including BetCity, bet365, Kansino, and Fair Play are also set to expire on October 1. Other operators entered the market at later dates, resulting in different expiry schedules. Jacks.nl has a licence expiry date of November 20, while FDJ United’s Unibet's licence extends until June 8, 2027, attributed to its later market entry due to the obligatory cooling-off period enforced by online gambling in the Netherlands for operators with prior grey market activity. OneCasino's licence is valid until October 5, 2027.
Regulatory Evolution and Tax Adjustments
The Dutch igaming market has undergone significant regulatory changes during its first five years of operation, a trend seen across many regulated online casino markets. A ban on using role models to advertise gambling came into effect in July 2022, preceding a ban on untargeted gambling advertisements implemented a year later. More recently, a ban on sports sponsorship was introduced. These measures were specifically intended to protect young people, at-risk gamblers, and problem gamblers, applying to influencers, other celebrities, and well-known athletes. The KSA recently addressed Betcity and TOTO Winkel concerning breaches of the Netherlands’ ban on the use of role models in gambling advertising. Furthermore, the market experienced a rise in gambling tax. The rate levied on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) was increased to 34.2 per cent in January 2025, followed by a further increase to 37.8 per cent in January this year. Both operators and the KSA have expressed concerns regarding these tax hikes, noting that tax revenue actually decreased after their introduction, contrary to expectations.
