Netherlands Gambling Laws

The main focus of this article is the gambling laws in the Netherlands. Besides them, you can also find details about the legal and illegal games offered in gambling locations. To make the article more interesting, we added a list of the top online and land-based casinos Netherlands players can enjoy. There is an interesting FAQ section at the end, so stay with us until the end.

Netherlands Gambling Regulation & Laws

The Dutch gambling regulation is inherited from the Ancient Roman gambling laws, Viking gambling, and the betting practices of Gauls, German, and other tribes occupying present-day Netherlands provinces. An interesting historical fact is that the first state-issued gambling and betting activities licence was issued in the 14th century. In 1726, the longest-running lottery in the world started – the Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij.

Modern Gambling Laws in the Netherlands

The Dutch gambling law evolved into the 1964 Betting and Gaming Act. This law still regulates the gambling industry in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Besides this main regulation, there are many gambling laws Netherlands’ operators must follow. We collected some of the most important ones in the following table:

Even if you don’t know anything else about the Netherlands’ gambling laws or games, remember that the legal gambling age is 18 years. The second thing a Dutch player must remember is to pay a 30.1% winner tax on all betting and lottery games in case of winning a prize over €449. No tax is due for lower prizes or when the losses exceed the prizes.

Those and more rules can be found in the gambling legislation of the Netherlands. In the next section of this blog post, we will tell you more about the gambling authorities and the Dutch gambling licence. After that, you can learn more about the differences between land-based and online gambling regulations and how the Kingdom of the Netherlands deals with gambling addiction.

Netherlands Gambling Authority: NOGA & KSA

The Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit/KSA) was created in 2012, and this allowed the land-based Holland Casino to open more casinos in the Netherlands. Each gambling location in the country needs one or more of the following types of KSA gambling licences:

The Netherlands gambling regulation for brick-and-mortar casinos expanded, and in 2021, the Remote Gambling Act in the Netherlands was accepted. There is more to learn about the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA), and the first remote gambling licences granted to 10 NOGA members in 2021.

According to the Dutch gambling laws, any land-based or foreign operator with headquarters in the Netherlands can apply for a gambling licence. Getting a Dutch online gambling licence is an easy procedure with simple rules mandatory to all operators who wish to offer their services to the Dutch players.

Legal Casino Games & Sports Gambling In the Netherlands

The main reason for the creation of the gambling laws in the Netherlands was the different wagering games people played that needed regulation. Today, every operator needs a Dutch gambling licence to offer the top 10 casino slots in the Netherlands for 2022 or either one of the following games:

The Dutch gambling laws also allow many of the modern variations of casino and wagering games. All games are monitored for fair play by the Netherlands Gaming Authority and independent regulators like eCOGRA and Verispect.

Interestingly, in 2012 UNESCO recognised the Dutch horse races as Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the oldest races date back to the 1750s and even earlier. It is impossible to tell how many people won the highest gambling wins in the Netherlands through the history of wagering in this country, but they were more than enough for gambling games to continue for so long.

Gambling Laws in the Netherlands

The Dutch gambling law formed the base of legal gambling in the country and gave freedom of action to the Dutch Gambling Association. Beyond the legal binderies, the operators have to create and follow various rules for lowest and highest possible bets. When it comes to the fans of high stakes, they all know the Dutch high roller betting guide by heart and apply the tips and strategies in their games.

Netherlands Gambling Laws for Brick-and-Mortar Casinos

All gambling laws in the Netherlands we listed at the beginning of this article apply to land-based gambling locations. In 1996, Holland Casino got a permanent casino gaming licence called “Beschikking Casinospelen”, which is valid for all casinos part of the franchise.

After the last changes in the Netherlands’ online gambling laws, Holland Casino now has a great online version, which players can enjoy as well.

Besides casinos, Dutch players can play lottery games at land-based kiosks. The Dutch State Lottery also called Staatsloterij BV (Staatsloterij), is the monopolist on the market. There are also exclusive semi-permanent licences like sports betting (Lotto BV), Totalisator (ZEbetting & Gaming Nederland BV), lotto (Lotto BV), and instant lottery (Lotto BV).

Just like Netherlands players, the operators also pay gambling tax of a 29% Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). The tax for horse or harness races is 10% GGR from all monthly bets.

The Best Land-Based Casinos in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Netherlands gambling laws allow only state-owned casinos owned by Holland Casino.

The good thing about that is that all gambling locations part of this chain offer the same games and the same bonuses.

The payout rate of the games is also quite high – 93% RTP for slot machines and 97.7% RTP for table games.

Here are the fourteen Holland Casinos spread throughout the country:

The Dutch gambling laws are equally strict towards the top land-based horse racetracks at Drafbaan Groningen (Groningen), Drafcentrum Alkmaar (Alkmaar), Renbaan Duindigt (Duindigt, near The Hague) and Victoria Park (Wolvega near Heerenveen). Besides the legislation, many rules of animal care and race regulations must be followed.

The regulations of the Netherland lotteries in every land-based kiosk and lotto station are also strict. The gambling machines are supervised by the Dutch Measurement Institute and regularly inspected by the independent company Verispect.

Netherlands Gambling Regulations for Online Casinos

The latest changes in the Netherlands gambling regulation legalise gambling at online casinos. In 2021, the new Netherlands online gambling regulation allowed operators to receive licences and open legit gambling sites. Many of them are known as Netherlands’ low wagering casinos, while others are famous for high-stakes games.

Online Gambling Laws for Netherlands Operators

The Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) took over the control and monitoring of the legal Netherlands online casino sites. After extensive licensing procedure, by the end of 2021, NOGA certified ten operators, worthy of being called the best Dutch online casino sites.

According to the Remote Gambling Act, the list of legal online games in the Kingdom of the Netherlands includes a vast range of casino games, sports betting, and horse race betting, but the licences do not permit wagering on:

All operators must perform regular fair play checks of the games they offer and allow outside monitoring. Furthermore, each online casino operator in the Netherlands pays a gambling tax of 29% of their GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) and a 1.95% remote gambling levy over their GGR.

Top Online Casinos in the Netherlands

The current Dutch gambling law is clear on the conditions under which an operator can acquire an online gambling licence.

Don’t be surprised to see certificates from licensing authorities in outer countries.

According to the Remote Gambling Act of 2019, most of the twelve NOGA members applied for and received a licence. Now, Netherlands players can choose to play at the following online gambling sites:

We are certain that soon more international operators will be able to offer their services to the local players. Before jumping into the world of online gambling in the Netherlands, we recommend exploring all gaming options. All in all, it’s always advisable to get acquainted with the 10 things to know before creating an online casino account in the Netherlands.

Responsible Gambling in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

One of the most serious matters mentioned in the Netherlands gambling regulation and supportive rules is dealing with gambling addiction. We are glad to say that responsible gambling in the Netherlands is taken very seriously by all operators. Here are several requirements and traits of a licensed Netherlands online casino to check before registering:

Adding self-exclusion tools and contacts to gambling addiction helplines like the Loket Kansspel is one of the specifics of the Dutch online gambling regulation. We are glad to inform you that all operators care for their players, and Holland Casino even won the international casino industry Gaming Award for “Most Socially Responsible Business” on 21st January 2008, in London.

Netherlands Gambling Laws Important Questions

Knowing the Netherlands’ gambling laws is the first step towards excellent gambling time. We collected several important questions about gambling in the Netherlands and answered them below. Follow the links to find more details about the laws, licences, and various legal games in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.