Holland Casino’s revenue – coming from its 14 properties - have grown steadily since 2013, the end of the economic crisis, totalling €628m. The privatisation of Holland Casino, which would make additional casino licenses available, has been stalled since January 2017. It is due to be voted on by the upper house of parliament, the Senate, in the beginning of 2019. Of the 14 existing casinos, ten will be sold in a block and continue to be operated under the Holland Casino trademark and the rest will be sold separately or in other “packages”.
Under draft legislation currently pending in the Senate, the total licences available will be increased to 16. So, two new licenses will be made available through an auction.
Although the number of casinos will remain unchanged until the privatisation has been carried out, the state-owned monopoly operator has rationalised its operations. In 2017 Holland Casino closed her venue in Schiphol-airport, to start a new casino in Amsterdam. This is the second one in Amsterdam. This casino opened her doors June 2018. In august 2017 Holland Casino lost one property in Groningen due to a fire. December 2018, Holland Casino opened a temporary Casino there, a premium pop-up casino. Both facts influence the revenues. Employee numbers have increased significantly, rising from 2,360 in 2015 to 2,871 in 2018.
The number of visitors stabilized. In 2018, 5.7 million individuals visited one of the 14 casinos. Almost the same number as in 2016 and 2017. Draft legislation regulating online gambling in the Netherlands is currently pending, with the first licences expected to be issued in the beginning 2020 and become operational in the middle of 2020.
As a result of delays to this law, the Dutch government passed legislation as part of its 2018 budget which will see gambling taxes rise temporarily. A rate of 30.1 percent of GGR will be in place until six months after online gambling licensing comes into effect, after which it will fall back to 29 percent.
On May 7, 2018, a consultation on the draft regulation implementing the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD) was launched and proposals maintain the exemption for all existing licensed gambling activities from the obligations of the 4th AMLD, except for casino games. In preparation of the two big changes of the casino landscape in the Netherlands there was a consultation of the changes in the gambling law. It contains for example the regulation for online gambling and the introduction of a national self-exclusion register.
The Regulatory body, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), will be responsible for issuing online gambling licences in the country once the legislation and secondary regulations have been finalised.
Amendments to the country’s Gaming Act in 2011 granted the KSA the power to issue fines of up to 10 percent of a company’s turnover, should an operator target the Dutch market illegally. In 2018 the fines were the highest since the introduction of the KSA. The fines doubled from 810.000 in 2017 till 1.7 million in 2018.
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2017 | 2708 |
| 2016 | 2519 |
| 2015 | 2360 |
| 2014 | 2308 |
| 2013 | 2621 |
The casino sector in the Netherlands is monopolised and state-owned.
In 2013, legal regulations requiring casino staff to be trained in player protection were introduced.
Consequently, Holland Casino, the single casino licensee, operates an intensive responsible gambling policy as part of its social responsibility measures.
The policy aims to protect players in the country’s 14 casinos by training staff to recognise problematic behaviour, informing players of the risks gambling presents and providing active intervention procedures and referral to addiction prevention agencies for problem gamblers.
All staff are trained by experts from gambling addiction agencies.
Additionally, Holland Casino has a strict responsible gambling policy for players aged between 18 and 23 due to their elevated risk of addiction.
A self-exclusion programme is in place for casinos and the Gaming Authority keeps a register of players who have self-excluded.
Wagers on gaming machines in casinos are limited to €50 under Holland Casino’s regulations.
Players must be at least 18 years of age to gamble in the Netherlands.
The Stichting Anonieme Gokkers Omgeving Gokkers (Anonymous Gamblers and Social Environment of Gamblers) is an institution that deals with gambling addiction in various towns across the Netherlands.
In 2015, the slogan “Speel Bewust” (play responsibly) was adopted by licensed gaming and betting companies in order to raise consumers’ awareness of the potential risks that gambling presents.
The Human Assitance Network for Daily Support (HANDS) operates a 24-hour helpline for players experiencing gambling-related issues.
Legal Gambling Age: 18 Years Old
Smoking Ban:Yes. However, smoking-permitted rooms are allowed.
Terrestrial:Monopoly, state-owned.
Online: Unregulated
Terrestrial:In 2015 Holland Casino offered the following table games: American Roulette, Black Jack, Punto Banco, Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker, 3 Card Poker, 4 Card Poker, Multi Poker, Money Wheel, Poker (Omaha and Texas Hold’em), Dice Ball.
Terrestrial:Dutch Gaming Authority
Market Protection Measures / Tools to Tackle Illegal Gambling:Website blocking is not permitted in the Netherlands. However, payment blocking is authorised and advertising restrictions for unlicensed operators are in place.
| 2017 | 5840 |
| 2014 | 5465 |
| 2016 | 5931 |
| 2015 | 5832 |
| 2013 | 5403 |
| 2017 | 610 |
| 2016 | 581 million |
| 2015 | 548 million |
| 2014 | 495 million |
| 2013 | 476 million |
Currency : Euro
Population: 16,936,520
(Source:The World Bank)
GNI (2014, Local Currency, Millions): 656,833
(Source: Eurostat)
Internet Penetration (Internet Users): 93.2%
(Source: The World Bank)
Mobile Penetration (Mobile Cellular Subscriptions): 116%
(Source: The World Bank)
Doing Business Ranking (June 2015):28
(Source: World Bank Group)
Last Updated: May 2019
