Netherlands
Author: Niklas Eriksen
Last Updated: 13 November, 2024
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:
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
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 The country's gambling laws were restrictive, complex, and outdated for quite a long time, and thanks to the offshore online sportsbooks that had ventured into the Netherlands' gambling market, the government was forced to make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
November 12, 2024: LiveScore Group, the company behind the sports betting platform LiveScore Bet, is ceasing its gaming operations in the Netherlands due to rising regulatory pressure, including planned tax increases. The gross gaming revenue tax will rise from 30.5% to 34.2% in January 2024 and to 37.8% in 2025, despite warnings from industry groups about its impact on the legal market.
October 24, 2024: The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), fines NetX Betting €675,000 ($729,183) for operating unlicensed gambling sites Pferdewetten.de and Betbird.com. The penalty also addressed NetX's practice of penalizing inactive players.
October 10, 2024: The Market Scan 2024 report reveals sports betting accounts for just 9% of the Dutch gambling market, dropping to 7% for online revenue, despite a 9.7% increase to €349m in 2023. Online betting dominates, contributing 83% of total revenue, while land-based options are limited to monopolies Zeturf and TOTO Winkel.
October 1, 2024: New Dutch online gambling rules impose stricter deposit limits to prevent gambling harm. Players are restricted to €700 net deposits per month, with young adults (18-25) capped at €300. Further deposits are blocked once limits are reached and monthly deposits are reset. All licensed gambling and sports betting operators must comply.
August 21, 2024: KSA explicitly prohibits F1 team Sauber from promoting crypto gaming and sportsbook brand Stake.com, its main sponsor, during the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, as the betting platform doesn't hold a license to operate in the country.
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
November 11, 2024: Dutch MPs urge Curacao to tighten gambling regulations to combat money laundering, citing connections between criminal groups and legitimate businesses that threaten public administration integrity.
November 6, 2024: A report by Dialogic for Dutch government agency WODC has criticized the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) as inadequate in protecting consumers from gambling harm. It highlights flaws in money and time limits, which players must set individually for each operator, allowing them to bypass limits by switching platforms. The report calls for urgent regulatory reforms.
October 30, 2024: KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen told Casino nieuws that blocking illegal gambling sites is ineffective in its current form, as the process can take up to a year due to legal hurdles. Fully blocking sites licensed in other jurisdictions is particularly challenging.
October 23, 2024: KSA warns Winbet of a potential €840,000 fine for offering unlicensed online gambling. KSA's investigation revealed illegal operations through four sites: Galaxyspins.com, Winnercasino1.bet, Superb1.bet, and Doctorspins.com, none of which are licensed in the Netherlands.
October 18, 2024: The Netherlands regulator KSA warns BlokDance of a potential €840,000 fine for offering unlicensed online gambling via bc.game and bcgame.lu. Following KSA's investigation, BlokDance blocked Dutch players but risks further action if it resumes operations.
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.
