Bonuses for Dutch license casinos

Written and fact-checked by the GamblingHolland.nl editorial team · Last updated 22 September 2026 · Based on the Dutch Advertising Code for Online Games of Chance and KSA guidance · Editorial policy

Dutch Casino Bonus Regulations: Legal Limits, 24+ Rules & Player Protection

Online casinos and sportsbooks licensed in the Netherlands may offer bonuses, but they have far less freedom than gambling operators in many other countries. Dutch rules determine who may receive a bonus, how an offer must be presented and which conditions are permitted.

The restrictions are especially strict for young adults. Players aged 18 to 23 may legally gamble with a licensed Dutch operator, but they cannot use welcome bonuses, free spins, free bets or other gambling promotions. Below, we explain why the bonus age limit is 24 rather than 18 and which statutory rules apply to online promotions in the Netherlands.

Can Dutch online casinos still offer bonuses?

Yes. Licensed Dutch gambling operators may still offer bonuses to eligible players. Examples include:

• Welcome bonuses;
• Deposit bonuses;
• Free spins;
• Free bets;
• Promotional betting credit;
• Reload offers;
• Loyalty rewards.

However, Dutch law treats a bonus as a form of gambling advertising. It is not simply an account feature or a gift. It is an incentive used to attract new players or retain existing customers. Bonus offers must therefore comply with the general gambling advertising rules in the Netherlands as well as bonus-specific requirements.

Why are players under 24 excluded from bonuses?

Dutch gambling regulations classify people aged 18 to 23 as young adults. Although they are legally old enough to gamble, they are treated as a vulnerable group for advertising and player-protection purposes.

Licensed online gambling operators may not direct advertising or promotional activities at people under 24. The same protection applies to minors, people showing signs of risky gambling behaviour and players who have excluded themselves from gambling.

The Netherlands Gambling Authority, known in Dutch as the Kansspelautoriteit or KSA, states that bonuses may not be targeted at young adults. The Dutch Advertising Code for Online Games of Chance goes further: an online gambling operator must ensure that a young adult cannot use a bonus.

In practice, licensed operators must block bonus eligibility using the date of birth established during their age and identity verification process.

Who is considered a young adult?

For Dutch gambling regulations, a young adult is someone who:

• Is at least 18 years old; and
• Has not yet reached the age of 24.

A player becomes old enough to receive bonus offers on their 24th birthday, provided no other account restriction applies. The rule is based on the player's exact age. A casino cannot give a bonus to a 23-year-old simply because that person will turn 24 later in the year.

Which bonuses are unavailable to players under 24?

The restriction covers more than a traditional welcome offer. Players aged 18 to 23 cannot use promotional incentives such as:

• Casino welcome bonuses;
• Deposit-match bonuses;
• No-deposit bonuses;
• Free spins;
• Free bets;
• Risk-free bet promotions;
• Reload bonuses;
• Promotional credit;
• Loyalty and VIP rewards;
• Deposit-based prize promotions.

Dutch rules use a broad definition of a bonus. Savings and loyalty programmes can also qualify as gambling advertising. Changing the name of an offer does not avoid the rules. Calling promotional credit a reward, gift or loyalty benefit does not make it available to young adults if its purpose is to encourage gambling.

Why does the Netherlands use an age limit of 24?

The Dutch system distinguishes between the minimum gambling age and the age used for enhanced consumer protection. People may open a legal gambling account at 18, but the government and the KSA consider young adults particularly vulnerable to impulsive gambling and gambling-related harm.

The bonus restriction is intended to reduce financial incentives during the first years in which someone can legally gamble. It forms part of a wider system of player protection that includes identity checks, deposit controls, intervention duties and the CRUKS gambling-exclusion register.

Players who want to understand the warning signs can also read our page on the risks of gambling.

When did the under-24 bonus restriction begin?

The regulated Dutch online gambling market opened on 1 October 2021 under the Remote Gambling Act, commonly called the Wet Kansspelen op afstand or KOA. Dutch regulations already prohibited licensed operators from targeting people under 24 with gambling advertising.

By 1 February 2022, online operators had implemented the practical exclusion of players aged 18 to 23 from bonuses. The current Advertising Code for Online Games of Chance still expressly requires operators to ensure that young adults cannot use a bonus.

For more background on the legal framework, see our explanation of the Dutch Gambling Act.

What information must a Dutch bonus include?

Operators must inform players clearly and completely before they accept a bonus. The information must cover all material conditions, including where relevant:

• The value of the bonus;
• The required qualifying deposit;
• The wagering requirement;
• The expiry date;
• The games or bets that qualify;
• The contribution of individual games towards wagering;
• Any maximum permitted stake;
• Restrictions on withdrawing bonus winnings;
• Conditions for cancelling the bonus;
• Any maximum amount that can become withdrawable cash.

The key terms may not be hidden deep inside general terms and conditions. They must be presented clearly, accessibly and in understandable language. Where advertising space is limited, the key terms must be available through one clear click. A player should be able to understand the real value and obligations of the offer before accepting it.

Players must actively accept a bonus

A licensed operator may not automatically place a bonus in a player's account based on implied or silent consent. The player must expressly accept the promotion.

Operators must also provide a way for players to indicate that they no longer wish to receive bonus offers. If a player asks to cancel a bonus, the operator should process that request as quickly as reasonably possible, subject to the applicable bonus conditions.

What is the maximum welcome bonus in the Netherlands?

Under the Dutch Advertising Code for Online Games of Chance, a welcome or qualifying reactivation bonus is limited as follows:

• For a first deposit between €50 and €250, the bonus may not exceed 100% of the deposit;
• For a first deposit below €50, the bonus may not exceed €50;
• In the other situations covered by the provision, the maximum is €250.

These limits apply to a new player and to a returning player who has not placed a bet for at least six months. The €250 limit comes from the sector's advertising code and should be distinguished from bonus requirements imposed directly through Dutch gambling legislation.

Dutch casinos may not create excessive urgency

A bonus must not pressure a player into making an impulsive decision. Under the advertising code, a response period of less than 24 hours creates prohibited time pressure. A period of at least three days is generally considered sufficient. Offers lasting between one and three days may need to be assessed individually.

Potentially problematic wording includes:

• “Deposit in the next hour or lose your bonus”;
• “Claim immediately before the offer disappears”;
• “Your personal reward expires tonight”;
• “Act now to unlock your winnings.”

A licensed operator must not manufacture urgency that encourages unplanned deposits or impulsive gambling.

Bonus conditions may not cause excessive continued play

A bonus may contain wagering conditions, but those conditions cannot create unreasonable pressure to continue gambling. The advertising code specifically identifies a bonus that requires several additional deposits before payment as an example of excessive gambling pressure.

Operators must offer bonuses carefully and in a balanced manner. The structure, value, frequency and presentation may not encourage excessive participation.

Why are loss-based cashback bonuses restricted?

The KSA regards cashback based on a player's losses as particularly problematic. Refunding part of a loss may encourage someone to continue gambling or make a risky deposit seem less harmful than it is.

A bonus cannot be offered during active play

Licensed operators may not offer a new bonus while a player is actively participating in a game. For example, a casino should not display a pop-up offering extra spins while the player is spinning an online slot.

An offer may sometimes be shown when a player is logged in but is not actively gambling. The precise context matters, but the basic rule is that an operator must not use a bonus to influence decisions during active participation.

Bonuses cannot be personalised using individual gambling behaviour

An operator may not determine the timing or nature of a bonus based on a person's individual gambling activity. A licensed casino should not offer a larger reload bonus merely because its system detected that a player:

• Recently lost a substantial amount;
• Reduced their gambling activity;
• Was about to withdraw money;
• Usually deposits on a particular day;
• Stopped playing after a losing session.

This does not mean every general promotion is prohibited. An operator may still run an offer for an eligible group, provided it is not individually tailored to exploit a player's gambling behaviour.

No new bonus after a responsible-gambling intervention

If an operator intervenes because of potentially harmful gambling behaviour, it may not immediately follow that intervention with a new bonus offer. Doing so would undermine the purpose of the player-protection measure.

The required period without bonus offers depends on the type and seriousness of the intervention. A bonus agreed before the intervention may still have to be paid under its existing terms, but the operator should not use a new promotion to bring the player back into active gambling.

Legal Dutch casinos versus offshore bonus offers

The Dutch bonus restrictions apply to operators licensed to serve players in the Netherlands. Offshore casinos may advertise larger bonuses, high cashback percentages or aggressive VIP rewards. That does not mean those offers are permitted in the Dutch market.

An operator needs a Dutch licence from the KSA to legally offer online casino games or sports betting to consumers in the Netherlands. Players using an unlicensed operator have no regulatory protection in disputes involving withdrawals, unclear wagering requirements, closed accounts or confiscated winnings.

Always verify whether an operator holds an active Dutch licence by consulting our licensed Dutch operators overview before depositing. A large advertised bonus is not proof of a better or safer offer.

Frequently asked questions about Dutch casino bonuses

Conclusion

Dutch residents may legally gamble online from the age of 18, but full access to casino and sportsbook bonuses begins at 24.

Players aged 18 to 23 cannot claim welcome bonuses, free spins, free bets or loyalty rewards from licensed Dutch operators. For older players, bonuses remain permitted, but operators must present their terms clearly, obtain explicit acceptance and avoid excessive urgency, personal targeting or gambling pressure.

The Dutch system deliberately treats a bonus as advertising rather than free money. That distinction explains why bonus rules are closely connected to player protection, responsible gambling and restrictions on how licensed operators may promote their products.

Gambling regulations and advertising codes can change; always check the current conditions and confirm that an operator holds a Dutch licence before registering. Play responsibly and only spend what you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, consider CRUKS self-exclusion, and find support through AGOG. 18+.