Holland Casino Online has received a five-year extension for its Dutch online gambling licence, as announced by the Netherlands Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) on Thursday.
This licence extension, effective from October 1, 2026, will allow Holland Casino Online to continue offering its online gambling services within the Dutch market until at least 2031.
Petra de Ruiter, CEO of Holland Casino, emphasized the company’s commitment to a safe and responsible online environment, stating, "Player protection will always come first. However, it is also crucial that the regulated market remains appealing enough to discourage players from turning to unregulated options, where oversight and protection are absent."
The regulator's move in extending the licence also reflects its support for Holland Casino Online amid concerns regarding compliance in the market. Recently, the authority addressed accusations against gambling advertisers Betcity and TOTO Winkel for violating the ban on using role models in advertisements.
These measures follow the government's near-total advertising ban implemented in June.
This extension of the licence follows a significant tax hike that began impacting Holland Casino earlier this year. Starting in January 2025, the gambling tax rate jumped to 34.2% of gross gaming revenue (GGR) and reached 37.8% with a full increase in January 2026.
Holland Casino has expressed concerns about the tax increase, suggesting it could significantly reduce the company's future profits. Following the initial hike, Holland Casino reported an additional cost of €13.5 million during the first half of 2025.
The government has indicated a willingness to negotiate with Holland Casino regarding the tax implementations, following last year's confirmation that there would be no move to privatize the casino.
The Ministry of Finance anticipates that the raised tax rate will generate an extra €200 million annually between 2025 and 2028, as mentioned in their announcement last September.
