On Thursday, the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) announced the reissuance of eight online gambling licenses as part of its five-year renewal initiative for the sector. These licenses will allow the operators to continue their legal activities in the Netherlands from October 1, 2026, until September 30, 2031.
This marks the first time since the market's launch in 2021 that licenses have come up for renewal, and the final roster will reveal how many operators have chosen to exit the market. The original licenses granted in 2021 are set to expire at the end of September 2026, compelling all license holders to submit applications for the next five-year period running from 2026 to 2031.
The renewed licenses have been awarded to several operators, including TOTO Online BV (operating brands such as TOTO and Winnitt), Holland Casino NV (Holland Casino Online), Play North Limited (Kansino), FPO Nederland BV (FairPlay Casino), Bingoal Nederland BV (Bingoal), Hillside (New Media Malta) Plc (Bet365), NSUS Malta Limited (GG Poker), and Betent BV (Betcity). This selection features a blend of both domestic and international operators, all of whom were previously active in the market, resulting in no new operators receiving an approval to operate at this stage.
It is noteworthy that LiveScore and Tombola, both part of the original ten operators licensed, exited the market in 2024.
In contrast to the 2021 licensing process, the KSA took a more detailed and rigorous approach to the renewal of licenses. This change was anticipated following the introduction of new regulatory policies announced by the KSA in September 2025. Among these policies was a requirement for licensees who had faced compliance enforcement during their time operating in the Netherlands.
The KSA stated, “Providers that made mistakes in the past five years must explain during the application process how they have learned from previous mistakes and how they intend to prevent recurrence. If we find this explanation insufficient, the permit may be denied or additional conditions and restrictions may be imposed.” This stipulation raised concerns among some operators about potential hurdles to remaining in the market. However, during a meeting last year, the KSA reassured licensees that a stringent approach would not be uniformly enforced.
Bjorn Fuchs, chairman of VNLOK, noted there was a collective sigh of relief when these points were discussed. Overall, what emerged was a more regulated framework for license renewals rather than a sweeping crackdown on operators.
Regarding the KSA's updates, Fuchs mentioned, “If you [as an operator] have a clean sheet, there are some hoops, but for various modules you can just send a declaration which states that you’re compliant.” He emphasized that while the new protocols make compliance somewhat easier, the added complexity from the new 'exit plan' requirement and refined duties of care still poses challenges for operators.
Applicants must now provide details of corrective measures undertaken in response to previous compliance breaches along with their plans to prevent future incidents. All submissions must include an exit plan, a newly mandated obligation designed to ensure an orderly market withdrawal. This requirement aims to integrate long-term risk management into the licensing process, demanding that operators outline how they plan to responsibly wind down operations if their licenses are not renewed or should they choose to leave the market before the next renewal period.
The KSA indicated that some operators received 'additional points for attention,' suggesting that while these applicants met basic legal requirements, the Authority expects ongoing improvements in compliance standards. Notably, TOTO Online BV was flagged for violating advertising regulations by including role models in their promotional materials earlier this year. This incident marked a repeat infringement, as TOTO had been fined in 2022 for advertising aimed at young audiences.
