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.

• Special Note on Online Scratch CardsAlthough online scratch cards are prohibited in the Netherlands, an equivalent type of game, known as “click & reveal” games, exists within the legal market.

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• These updated rules reflect the ongoing shift towards a more controlled and safer online gambling market in the Netherlands.

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• More recently, some licensed operators have also chosen to leave the market due to stricter regulations, advertising restrictions, and increasing tax pressure.
• 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%).
• 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.

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• Data from 2025 shows that young adults generated approximately €66 million in gross gaming result (GGR) in the first half of that year, accounting for around 11% of the total online market.

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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%).

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) Koko Casino loyaliteitsprogramma en VIP-voordelen 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 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.

The ban on role models applies to all ads for high risk games of chance including land-based casinos, sports betting, and online gambling. As of January 1, 2026, new policy rules for remote gambling licences have come into force in the Netherlands, further tightening the regulatory framework. Although the Netherlands was among the last countries in the European Union (EU) to legalise online gambling, the coalition agreement of Cabinet Rutte II had already indicated that the country’s gambling policy was in need of reform. The latter has become one of the main tasks of the KSA after online casinos started gaining popularity.

Types of Licences

Dutch players were now allowed to legally sign up at Dutch casinos with an official KSA-licence. On September 29, 2021 it was announced that 10 licences had been granted. The official decision confirming the Act’s implementation was eventually published in the government gazette, clarifying that April 1, 2021, would be the date when the Dutch online gambling market would be regulated.

July 2023: Ban On Gambling Ads

From October 2, 2021 online casinos have been allowed to offer their gambling products to Dutch players. The Dutch online gambling market accepts both domestic and international operators. Check out the full list of the 10 most popular casino games in the Netherlands on Casino.nl. Special Note on Online Scratch CardsAlthough online scratch cards are prohibited in the Netherlands, an equivalent type of game, known as “click & reveal” games, exists within the legal market. Recent data by Ipsos I&O shows that 65% of the Dutch population aged 16 and older participated in at least one gambling activity within the 12 months.

Market share online casino’s 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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Cruks (Self-Exclusion Register)

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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.