Netherlands
At this moment, 24 gambling operators have secured Dutch licenses from de Kansspelautoriteit, and eight of these provide either sports betting apps or web platforms for local bettors.
🇳🇱 Legal sports betting apps in Netherlands:
Online sports betting in the Netherlands - Some stringent regulations
Sandwiched between Belgium and Germany, the Netherlands is well known for its liberal attitude in several areas, including sports betting. However, it may be surprising that the country legalized gambling in 2021, far later than many other countries. The country's gambling laws were restrictive, complex, and outdated for quite a long time, and thanks to the offshore online sportsbooks that had ventured into the Netherlands' gambling market, the government was forced to make some legislative changes.
Campaigns to legalize online sports gambling began in 2015, as the government wanted to divert bettors away from offshore betting sites to create revenue. Finally, on April 1, 2021, they enforced the Remote Gambling Act, which allowed domestic and international operators to obtain gaming licenses from the Netherlands Gaming Authority (KSA).
First, the government granted an initial batch of 10 licenses to international and locally based sportsbooks, including Bet365, TOTO, and Holland Casino. Today, over 20 operators offer online gambling and betting-related verticals for Dutch bettors.
Therefore, in a nutshell, online sports betting is now completely legal in the Netherlands, given that such activity takes place on sportsbooks that hold licenses granted by the KSA. Generally, KSA oversees the NL gambling market to ensure that no unregulated and unlicensed bookmakers operate within its borders, taking enforcement against the culprits. The KSA also oversees that the operators or other affiliates follow the country's strict gambling-related advertising policies.
In addition to the rigorous advertising restrictions, the NL sports betting industry also includes many other major limitations from the bettor's point of view, such as the biphasic age limit. You must be at least 18 years old to open an account on any online gambling platform, but up until 24, you cannot claim any welcome bonuses and have a monthly 400€ deposit limit.
Sports betting legislation in Netherlands
| Is online sports betting legal in Netherlands? | Yes |
| Is in-person sports betting legal? | Yes |
| Is daily fantasy sports legal? | Yes |
| Is horse racing betting legal? | Yes |
| Is political betting legal? | No |
| Is eSports betting legal? | No |
| How many legal sports betting apps are there in Netherlands? | 8 |
| Legal age for sports betting in Netherlands? | 18+ restricted, 24+ full access |
| Netherlands' tax rate for betting/gambling winnings | 0% (if the win is from a betting app licensed by KSA) |
| Who regulates sports betting in Netherlands? | Netherlands Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) |
Even though the Netherlands' betting market has strict policies, such as the aforementioned 2-step age limit, the restrictions are somewhat lenient regarding what you can actually bet on. Therefore, each NL bettor can place wagers on all sports betting markets, both online and in-person, including live wagering on all top sports and leagues.
Certain limitations apply in this area. For example, betting on leagues lower than the Second Division in Dutch domestic football is prohibited. Additionally, only sports matches and competitions are open for betting, meaning novelty bets like those on politics or entertainment awards are not permitted. This factor is also the prime reason why esports betting markets aren't generally available on Dutch betting apps and sites, as esports isn't considered a sport in the country, at least not yet.
Horse racing has deep roots in the NL sports scene and culture, and betting on such races has been legal since 1948.
Recent updates from the Dutch sports betting scene
June 18, 2024: After interviewing almost 1,000 individuals aged 18 to 24, Dutch research agency Ruigrok states that 62% of interviewed young adults said they may consider placing bets on upcoming sporting events, such as the current UEFA Euro 2024 tournament.
June 16, 2024: The Netherlands kicks off their UEFA Euro 2024 finals campaign with a 2-1 victory over Poland after Wout Weghorst scored the game-winning go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute. The Oranje is currently priced at +1400 to win the European Championship.
June 3, 2024: The KSA sets new stricter deposit limit rules for online gambling and sports betting. All bettors and players aged between 18 and 24 must complete affordability checks if they wish to deposit €300 ($325) or more. For individuals aged over 24, the same financial state limit is €700 ($760).
May 19, 2024: PSV Eindhoven breaks the record for most points in an Eredivisie season after winning the championship title with 91 points. The previous record, 89 points, was set by Ajax in the 1997-98 season.
April 30, 2024: MGM Resorts announces the launch of its renowned BetMGM brand in the Netherlands following the brand's UK launch last year. The BetMGM Netherlands online sportsbook is powered by Kambi.
All legal gambling options in Netherlands
| Are online casinos legal in Netherlands? | Yes |
| Are retail casinos legal? | Yes |
| Are social casinos legal? | Yes |
| Is online poker legal? | Yes |
| Is the lottery legal? | Yes |
Organized gambling in the Netherlands dates back to the 18th century when the national state lottery was established in 1726, making it the oldest-running state lottery in the world. Currently, Nederlandse Loterij BV holds the sole privilege of providing lottery and land-based betting offerings within the Netherlands.
The 2011 Remote Gambling Act opened the NL gambling market to online casinos, meaning that such an iGaming platform can also obtain a license from KSA to operate in the country. With such a license, these gambling sites can cater to the Dutch with all sorts of real-money casino entertainment, such as virtual slots, video poker, and table games. This means that online poker is also legally available.
In the retail sector, Holland Casino, a government-owned entity, holds the sole legal authority for in-person gambling in the Netherlands and operates fourteen casinos across the country.
Other gambling-related news & stories from the Netherlands
July 4, 2024: Teun Struycken, the new State Secretary for Legal Protection in the Netherlands, will oversee the country's gaming policy, succeeding Franc Weerwind. Known for his stricter stance, Struycken will finalize updates to the Dutch Remote Gambling Act, including mandatory deposit limits and enhanced consumer protections. The new government also considers banning gambling advertising and raising the gambling tax from 30.5% to 37.8%, sparking industry discussions.
June 12, 2024: The KSA reports that it has handed out new six-figure penalty payments from two gambling operators for continuing to operate in the Dutch market without proper licenses. Blue High House S.A. faces a €129,000 ($138,617) fine, and L.C.S. Limited a €165,000 ($177,300).
May 16, 2024: Four political party coalition in the Netherlands aims to increase the country's gambling tax for operators from 30.5% to 37.8%. While the state treasury calculates the tax hike would increase gambling tax contributions by €202m ($219.6m), the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) states the proposed 7.3% tax rise "endangers the viability of the legal Dutch gambling market."
May 31, 2024: Dutch court rejects a lawsuit of an individual gambler who lost nearly €100,000 ($108,200) in online gambling platform Bwin before the country's current gambling regulations were established. The Zeeland-West Brabant Court judge explained the Bwin-favored ruling that the Remote Gambling Act of 2021 could not be enforced retroactively.
April 18, 2024: The Netherlands' Parliament has approved a ban on online gambling advertisements and high-risk games such as slots, alongside measures for financial risk assessments and identity checks in the sector. These new regulations await implementation by the Minister for Legal Protection, with concerns about potential impacts on unregulated gambling and revenue.
Netherlands - Some commonly asked questions (FAQ)
What kind of restrictions are there in the Dutch sports betting scene?
Both retail and online sports betting are legal in the Netherlands but with substantial restrictions. For example, while all 18 and above can place wagers, bonus offers are only available for above 24-year-olds. Also, novelty bets are illegal.
Has the Netherlands' sports betting legislation changed in recent years?
The Netherlands's already stringent betting regulations are constantly updated. For instance, rules regarding gambling ads, taxation, and deposit limits have been under work. Also, the country is currently considering a ban on online casino slots.
How much money do the Dutch spend on gambling?
According to the most recent data available, an average Dutch adult spends an average of €258 on gambling. However, only around 9% of this figure goes to sports betting, as other types of gambling are way more popular in the Netherlands.
What are the most popular sports in the Netherlands?
Soccer is the number one sport in the Netherlands, and in fact, a study in 2022 showed that 62% of Dutch individuals planned to place sports bets on the next FIFA World Cup. In addition, field hockey and volleyball are also widely popular in the country.
