On Thursday, the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) announced the renewal of eight online gambling licenses as part of its five-year licensing program for the sector. These renewed licenses will allow operators to continue their legal activities in the Netherlands from October 1, 2026, until September 30, 2031.
This marks the first renewal of licenses since the market's inception in 2021, and the final list of renewed licenses will reveal how many operators have chosen to exit the market. The first licenses issued in 2021 will expire at the end of September 2026, meaning all existing license holders were required to submit applications for the next period.
The companies receiving renewed licenses include TOTO Online BV (TOTO, 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 list is composed of both local and international operators and reflects those that had previously been active in the market, with no new entrants approved at this time.
Notably, both LiveScore and Tombola, part of the original ten licensed operators, exited the Netherlands market in 2024.
In comparison to the original 2021 licensing round, the KSA has implemented a more detailed and strict approach for the license renewal process. This shift was anticipated following new regulatory policies announced by the KSA in September 2025.
One pivotal rule requires licensees who have encountered compliance enforcement actions in the past five years to detail the lessons learned and how they plan to avoid such issues in the future during their application process. The KSA stated, "Providers that made mistakes in the past five years must explain… If we find this explanation insufficient, the permit may be denied or additional conditions imposed."
This new expectation raised concerns among operators who feared an increase in barriers to market entry. However, at a regulatory meeting last year, the KSA reassured licensees that it would not apply overly strict criteria. Bjorn Fuchs, chairman of VNLOK, stated there was a collective relief among attendees when these details were shared.
Fuchs noted that while operators with a clean compliance record would encounter some requirements, certain modules would allow for straightforward compliance declarations.
Moreover, the new regulatory framework is less burdensome than before, although the addition of the 'exit plan' and the clarified duty-of-care definitions introduced complexities. The KSA mandates that applicants outline corrective actions for past violations and establish a clear exit strategy for responsible market withdrawal, should their license not be renewed or they choose to leave before the renewal period ends.
The regulator indicated that some operators were flagged for "additional points for attention," suggesting these applicants met minimum legal requirements, but the KSA anticipates sustained improvements in compliance.
TOTO Online BV, for example, was previously reported in June for breaching regulations that prohibit the use of role models in advertising. This was not the first infraction for TOTO; the platform was fined in 2022 for promoting gambling advertisements that appeared to target young audiences.
