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 The country's gambling laws were restrictive, complex, and outdated for quite a long time, and thanks to the offshore online sportsbooks that had ventured into the Netherlands' gambling market, the government was forced to make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 the Netherlands

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

• December 14, 2023: Kambi Group announces a partnership with Bingoal, a Belgian gambling operator, to provide its comprehensive sportsbook solution for retail and online operations in Belgium and the Netherlands.

• November 30, 2023: BetEnt, operating as BetCity, a Dutch online betting and gambling platform owned by Entain, receives a €3.0m fine from KSA due to failures in anti-money laundering and terrorist financing measures.

• October 6, 2023: Kambi Group partners with Dutch online casino operator  711 to supply its sports betting platform and technology, enabling the latter to expand its services to include sports betting under its existing license.

• October 4, 2023: LeoVegas Group announces the initiation of its operations in the regulated Dutch gambling market. The company will provide Dutch customers with access to sports betting, online casino games, and live casino entertainment.

All legal gambling options in the Netherlands - Casino entertainment is available in many forms

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

• 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.

• April 17, 2024: A Dutch court ruled that the online casino Bwin must refund €200K to a gambler for operating without the necessary license in the Netherlands. The gambler had lost this amount between January 2018 and November 2019, before the legalization of online gambling. The court invalidated the contract between the gambler and Bwin, highlighting the operator’s failure to enforce responsible gambling practices.

• April 11, 2024: The Dutch gambling authority KSA fined Casbit Group NV for illegally operating the lala.bet website in the Netherlands without the required license. Despite initial compliance, Casbit failed to restrict Dutch players' access as previously agreed, prompting the KSA to enforce a fine. The KSA continues its strict enforcement against unlicensed gambling to protect the integrity of the Dutch market and ensure player safety.

• April 9, 2024: Dutch banks pushed back against the government's proposal for gambling limits, citing customer privacy concerns. The plan aimed to mitigate gambling losses and was seen as a temporary solution pending broader regulatory reform. However, the Dutch Banking Association proposed alternative measures like credit card restrictions, deeming them more effective and privacy-friendly. The future of implementing these gambling limits remains uncertain.

• April 8, 2024: NOGA expresses concern as the Netherlands sees a decrease in players using licensed gambling sites, from 93% to 90%. Director Peter-Paul de Goeij attributes this and the market's slow growth to strict regulations driving players to illegal sites. NOGA urges a focus on combating unlicensed gambling to ensure a safe online gambling environment.

• February 27, 2024: December 22, 2023: The Netherlands' Minister for Legal Protection, Franc Weerwind, introduces new measures to prevent problem gambling. Operators must immediately contact players if the individual sets a €350 deposit limit per month or more to warn them of risks. Additionally, KSA proposes rules where players depositing over €700 monthly (€300 for ages 18-24) will be contacted for proof of income.

• September 15, 2023: March 1, 2024: KSA fines Gammix Limited €19.6m for offering games without a license. Gammix previously faced orders to exit the Dutch market or face weekly fines and was fined €4.4m for non-compliance. This latest fine is a consequence of previous orders due to Gammix's failure to restrict Dutch players.

• February 19, 2024: Betsson re-enters the Dutch market by acquiring Holland Gaming Technology and Holland Power Gaming for EUR 27.5 million. This move marks its return to the Netherlands after a previous exit.

• October 25, 2023: Two Dutch MPs propose raising the gambling tax for operators by one percent to 30.5%.

• October 16, 2023: KSA instructs Betonline.ag operator Blue High House to cease offering gambling to Dutch consumers without a proper license, threatening weekly fines of €43,000 if non-compliant, up to a maximum of €129,000.