Holland Casino Online has received a five-year extension for its online gambling licence from the Netherlands Gaming Authority, known as Kansspelautoriteit, as announced on Thursday. This new licence will be effective from 1 October 2026, allowing the operator to provide its online gambling services within the regulated Dutch market at least until 2031.
The renewal of the licence underscores the regulator's support for Holland Casino Online. Petra de Ruiter, the CEO of Holland Casino, emphasized the company's commitment to maintaining a safe and responsible online gaming environment with a focus on player protection. "At the same time, it remains essential that the regulated market is attractive enough to keep players away from unregulated providers, where supervision and protection are lacking," she remarked.
This concern for an appealing regulated market aligns with the KSA's recent actions in tackling allegations against Betcity and TOTO Winkel for breaching the ban on gambling advertisements utilizing role models. The nearly comprehensive advertising ban was enacted in June.
The licence extension follows a recent tax increase that affected the gambling sector in the Netherlands. The tax rate rose to 34.2% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) in January 2025, eventually escalating to 37.8% earlier this year. Holland Casino has been vocal against the tax hike, arguing it would significantly reduce its profits moving forward. In the first half of 2025, the operator faced an additional cost of €13.5 million due to the initial tax increase.
Following these developments, the government indicated it would engage with Holland Casino regarding the tax implications, especially after announcing that the operator would not be privatised. The Ministry of Finance previously projected an additional €200 million in revenue annually between 2025 and 2028 due to the tax raise, as stated in September during the approval process.
