CasinoBeats is breaking down the numbers behind some of the industry’s biggest stories. Our latest headline reflection features a gambling tax update from the Netherlands, an Australian push to ban gambling advertising and progress with FDJ’s Kindred acquisition.
37.8%
Dutch gambling taxes are set to reach 37.8% in 2026 after the Netherlands government revealed its budget for 2025.
Within its tax plan, the government’s Ministry of Finance stated that it will initially increase gambling tax from 30.5% to 34.2% in 2025, before increasing again to 37.8% in 2026.
The government added that this tax will be paid on winnings of more than €449 from a lottery or casino in the Dutch market.
Operators and associations alike from across the Dutch gambling industry have reacted to this tax increase, with the Nederlandse Online Gambling Association, VAN Kansspelen and VNLOK releasing a joint statement.
The statement reads: “The regulated gaming sector (represented by trade associations NOGA, VAN Kansspelen and VNLOK) reacts with great concern to the government’s intention to increase the gambling tax from 30.5%, 34.2% in 2025, to ultimately 37.8% in 2026.
“In view of the phased introduction, the government shows some recognition of the risks of counterproductive effects on gambling policy objectives and the public purse, but does not allay concerns about the continued existence of regulated gambling offerings.
“This underlines the need to map the effects of the gambling tax, in conjunction with other announced policy changes, ongoing evaluations and previous parliamentary decisions, more fundamentally and carefully.”
$32bn
Alliance for Gambling Reform is pushing for a total ban on gambling advertisements after pointing out that player losses increased to A$32bn across 2022/23.
The Australian gambling trade body has called on policymakers once again to push for a phase-out of gambling advertisements, pointing to 2022/23 national gambling losses of $32bn.
Provided in a recent report from the Queensland Government, these figures show a significant increase on the only available previous loss figures of $25bn from 2018/19.
Martin Thomas, CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, commented: “Australians lose more to gambling than any other nation in the world because we have a grossly inadequate regulatory regime in which the gambling industry has been allowed to operate virtually unchecked causing devastation to individuals, families and communities.
“These latest horrifying loss figures underscore the importance of the Federal Government adopting all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report including a full ban on gambling advertising on broadcast media and online. It also proves the need for a national strategy on gambling and the formation of a national regulator.”
3
Bally’s has cancelled plans to build a casino in Pennsylvania after ending a three-year-old contractual agreement with SC Gaming.
The casino operator revealed that “corporate strategic priorities have shifted elsewhere”, meaning it will no longer participate in developing the establishment in College Township, Pennsylvania.
“We are grateful for the collaboration and achievements we have accomplished with SC Gaming over the past three years,” said George Papanier, President of Bally’s Corporation.
“However, as our strategic focus evolves, we have made the difficult decision to conclude our relationship.”
Despite Bally’s backing out of the deal formed in 2021, SC Gaming is planning to continue the project alone with its expected H1 2026 projected completion remaining the same.
€2.6m
Groupe Française des Jeux has received another approval for its planned €2.6m acquisition of Kindred Group, this time by France’s national competition regulator, the Autorité de la concurrence.
FDJ was given the go-ahead by the Autorité after agreeing to a brand separation commitment to market its offerings under different brands.
Back in May, the ADLC was notified by FDJ of its plans to acquire sole control of Kindred, four months after the French gambling group submitted an offer of around €2.6m for the Unibet operator in January, which was unanimously recommended by Kindred’s board of directors.
FDJ has been edging closer towards the acquisition’s completion ever since the beginning of the year, receiving approval for the deal from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority in February and purchasing shares in Kindred along the way.
As a result of said approvals, FDJ brought forward the expiry date for the offer’s acceptance period. Previously, the acceptance period’s expiry was scheduled for 19 November 2024, but this has now been moved to 2 October.
€975,000
The KSA has reduced a sanction given to Videoslots from €9.9m to €975,000 following an appeal from the online casino operator.
Off the back of the sanction initially being announced in 2023, Videoslots took aim at the KSA, accusing the regulator of “abusing the mystery shopping regime”.
In offering detail on what led to this point, the operator noted that in preparation for a KSA application in April 2022, the regulator’s logo was “mistakenly visible for a short period of time”. It is noted that it was “quickly removed”.
However, Videoslots added that the KSA tried to sign-up as a Dutch customer after becoming aware of this, but failed due to the systems put in place. It is also suggested that the regulator accessed the site as a German customer, before making a deposit and sole wager of 20 cents.
Ulle Skottling, Deputy CEO at Videoslots, stated at the time: “Videoslots does not target but restrict the Netherlands, so the Dutch Gaming Act does not apply to its services. No Dutch players were able to access our site during the disputed period and there was no violation as a result.
“It is absurd that the KSA should fine us after gaining unauthorised access. It is simply not possible to protect fully against unauthorised access, and the KSA has no guidelines on what measures are sufficient.”
