The state of the Dutch gambling market in 2026
The Dutch online market opened to licensed operators in October 2021, and in 2026 it has reached a turning point. Growth has stalled, the operator tax sits at 37.8%, and for the first time more gambling money is flowing to illegal operators than to licensed ones. The KSA's spring 2026 monitoring report put the legal market's gross gaming result at €602 million for the second half of 2025, roughly €100 million a month and about 18% below 2024.
The channelisation figures tell the real story. Around 91% of Dutch people who gamble online use only licensed sites, a rate that has held steady for years. But measured in money, only 53% stays in the legal market, meaning nearly half of all gambling spend now reaches illegal operators. That gap, between most players staying legal while much of the money leaks out, is the defining feature of the 2026 market. The full breakdown is on our market statistics page.
| Indicator | Figure (spring 2026 report) |
|---|---|
| Gross gaming result (H2 2025) | €602 million (~€100m/month) |
| Change vs 2024 | -18% |
| Active players per month | ~500,000 |
| Player accounts per month | 1.38 million |
| Channelisation (players) | 91% |
| Channelisation (money) | 53% |
| Average loss per player | ~€124/month [CHECK] |
| Licensed operators (KSA) | ~35 total licences |
| CRUKS registrations | 100,000+ (late 2025) |
| Operator tax (GGR) | 37.8% |
What you can gamble on in the Netherlands
Online casino games
Slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and live casino. See our online casino overview, online slots, live casino, Dutch roulette sites and blackjack pages.
Sports betting
Football leads by far, with the Eredivisie, the Dutch Grand Prix and the Champions League driving the volume. Find the licensed bookmakers or read our sports betting overview. For racing, see horse racing betting. [CHECK URL: horce slug is misspelled, confirm before linking.]
Online poker
Four licensed rooms (GGPoker, Holland Casino Online, Unibet, Bet365) make up the legal market. See our Dutch poker sites overview.
Lotteries
The Postcode Lottery, Lotto and Eurojackpot still dominate. More at our Dutch lotteries overview.
Live game shows
Crazy Time, Lightning Roulette and Mega Ball are among the fastest-growing formats. See our live game shows page.
Licensed operators in the Netherlands
Around 35 operators hold a KSA licence in 2026. A selection is below; see the full operator overview for all active licences, and always confirm a licence on the KSA register before depositing.
| Operator | Type | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Bet365 | Casino + Sports | Review → |
| BetCity | Casino + Sports | Review → |
| TOTO | Sports + Casino | Review → |
| Unibet | Casino + Sports | Review → |
| 711 | Casino | Review → |
| LeoVegas | Casino | Review → |
| Jack's Casino | Casino + Sports | Review → |
| Circus | Casino + Sports | Review → |
| Kansino | Casino | Review → |
| VBet | Casino + Sports + Esports | Review → |
| Holland Casino Online | Casino + Sports | Review → |
| Bingoal | Sports + Casino | Review → |
| Fair Play Online | Casino | Review → |
| GGPoker | Poker | Review → |
Regulation and KSA oversight
The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) tightened its grip again in 2026, with new policy rules effective 1 January 2026 focused on affordability and accountability. The headline measures:
- Stricter advertising. Building on the 2023 ban on untargeted ads, operators must prove at least 95% of an ad's audience is 24 or over, and celebrities, influencers and athletes can't appear. See the advertising rules.
- Sports sponsorship ban. Gambling firms can no longer sponsor clubs or stadiums. See our sponsorship ban overview.
- CRUKS. The self-exclusion register passed 100,000 registrations in late 2025. Operators that fail to check it face heavy fines, as LeoVegas (€500,000) and Jack's Casino (€400,000, upheld in court) found.
- Duty of care. Operators must run real-time affordability checks and intervene quickly when play looks problematic.
- Mandatory Exit Plan. Every licence holder must now document how it would wind down and pay out players if its licence ends, ahead of the first renewals in October 2026.
For the wider picture, see our regulatory changes overview and our explainer on the Remote Gambling Act.
Gambling tax in 2026
The operator gambling tax rose to 37.8% of gross gaming revenue on 1 January 2026, up from 34.2% in 2025 and 30.5% in 2024. Players pay nothing on winnings; the whole burden sits with operators. The rising tax has pushed some out of the market, including Tombola and LiveScore Bet, and is one reason the legal market has stopped growing while the illegal side gains ground.
Payments: no cryptocurrency
Licensed Dutch operators can't accept cryptocurrency. Only regulated methods are allowed, which keeps payments traceable for anti-money-laundering purposes. See our crypto gambling page for why. Accepted methods include:
- iDEAL, the standard Dutch bank-payment method (deposits only)
- PayPal, accepted at several operators
- Trustly, Skrill and Neteller e-wallets
- Visa, Mastercard and Maestro cards
- Bank transfer (standard, slower)
Safer gambling
The KSA's OpenOverGokken.nl platform, launched in late 2025, has become a useful education resource. We'd encourage anyone playing to read our safer-play guidelines and understand the risks involved.
- CRUKS, self-exclude from all licensed Dutch platforms at once
- Gambling self-test, assess your own risk
- Player protection rules
- Free national helpline: 0800-1995 (24/7, anonymous) [CHECK number]
- AGOG, gambling addiction information and support
Explore GamblingHolland.nl
Regulation and law
- Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA)
- The Dutch Gambling Act (KOA/WOK)
- Regulatory Changes 2024-2025
- Advertising Rules
- Sports Sponsorship Ban
- AML & Compliance Requirements
- Age & Verification Requirements
Casinos
- Online Casinos Netherlands
- All KSA-Licensed Operators
- New Online Casinos
- Live Casino Netherlands
- Holland Casino
- Online Slots Netherlands
Games
- Dutch Poker Sites
- Dutch Roulette Sites
- Blackjack Netherlands
- Baccarat Netherlands
- Dutch Video Slots
- Slot Payout Percentages (RTP)
Sports betting
Lotteries
Payments & responsible gambling
- iDEAL Casinos
- PayPal Casinos
- Crypto Gambling Netherlands
- Safe Gambling Guidelines
- CRUKS Self-Exclusion
- Gambling Addiction Test
Market data
Frequently asked questions
Is online gambling legal in the Netherlands?
Yes, as long as the operator holds a KSA licence. The framework is the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), in force since October 2021. See our list of licensed operators.
What is the gambling tax in 2026?
The operator tax is 37.8% of GGR, up from 34.2% in 2025 and 30.5% in 2024. Players pay no tax on winnings. More on our gambling tax page.
Can I play anonymously at a Dutch online casino?
No. Identity verification is mandatory under AML rules. Every operator runs KYC checks before allowing deposits.
What is CRUKS?
The national self-exclusion register. Registering blocks you from all licensed Dutch platforms for at least six months, and every operator must check it before letting you play. It passed 100,000 registrations in late 2025.
Can I use Bitcoin at a Dutch online casino?
No. Licensed operators can't accept cryptocurrency. Only regulated methods like iDEAL, cards and bank transfer are allowed.
What is the minimum age to gamble?
18 to play. Bonuses and promotions are restricted to players 24 and over.
GamblingHolland.nl is an independent news and information resource. We do not provide gambling services. Gambling carries financial risk, so only spend what you can afford to lose and play only at KSA-licensed operators. If you think you may have a gambling problem, try our addiction self-test or contact AGOG or the free helpline 0800-1995. Read our disclaimer, affiliate disclosure and editorial policy. 18+.