The Netherlands have, for a long time, been known as one of the European countries where gambling is most prominent and popular. The reason for this is likely because of the stringent gambling laws, that ensure a safe and secure industry for everyone involved.

However, recently, the gambling industry has changed quite significantly. Mainly, we have online casinos to thank for this. While gambling sites have been around since the 1990s, it is only recently that they’ve blown up in relevance.

Their rise to the spotlight has resulted in quite a lot of changes in gambling laws worldwide. Let us take a look at how they’ve impacted the Netherlands. In this article, we are going over the laws that the country has put in place to govern online casinos.

Is Online Gambling Legal?

The first question that we must answer is whether online gambling is legal in the Netherlands. Plenty will be happy to learn that the answer is yes. However, there are some rules that these websites must follow, in order to operate within the country.

The first and foremost rule is that any casino online must first obtain a Dutch license. Dutch gambling organizations provide licensing to gambling websites, even if they don’t have physical headquarters within the country. In other words, getting a Dutch license shouldn’t be a problem if the casino is operating legitimately and in good faith.

There are, of course, other standard rules that you’d expect to see from most countries. For example, online casinos must ensure that they do not exploit problem gamblers, and under no circumstances are they allowed to target people under the legal gambling age (18 in the case of the Netherlands).

The Dutch Gambling Authority

We discussed Dutch organizations whose job it is to regulate the gambling industry. But, in truth, the responsibility falls on only one group’s shoulders. That would be the Netherlands Gambling Association (or NGA for short). The NGA regulates most forms of online and land-based gambling, so let’s just take a look at the most notable ones.

• Casinos: The NGA includes slots and table games (blackjack, roulette, etc.) under the auspices of “casino gaming.” And the group is responsible for ensuring that both land-based and digital casinos do their best to provide a safe and responsible industry for their players.
• Poker: Most gambling organizations around the world classify poker in a different category from slots and table games. The NGA is no different here. There is a good reason for this; after all, poker is a completely different game, which strikes a closer resemblance to chess than to any casino game. Regardless, the NGA is still responsible for handling the legitimacy of poker.
• Bingo: Bingo is one of the most popular games in the world. Dutch people are quite fond of the game, and it is the NGA’s task to ensure that they are safe when they look for games, both online and offline.
• Lottery: Finally, we get to the lottery, and it is here that we see a departure. While the NGA is responsible for the land-based lottery, online lotteries are actually prohibited in Holland. Which means, people can only play the lottery in person.

What About Sports Betting?

An aspect of iGaming that many don’t think about is sports betting. The reason may be that most of us view the two industries as completely separate. But, in fact, that is not quite true. After all, plenty of online casinos double as sportsbooks, and vice versa.

The Dutch also have a pretty well-documented passion for sports. With that in mind, sports betting’s popularity should not surprise. Especially with Dutch athletes like Verstappen attaining greater success on the global stage.

But, who is in charge of the sports betting industry in the Netherlands? Well, we once more come back to the Netherland Gambling Association, who handle the majority of the betting industry in Holland. If you’ve wagered on a mainstream sport in the country, you’ve probably done so at a website licensed by the NGA.

The NGA even licenses online sportsbooks that offer fantasy betting. Some may not be familiar with fantasy sports, and how popular they are. But, in 2024, the internet has opened our minds and viewpoints to many possibilities. Dutch fans of football can now participate in fantasy leagues, and draft their own teams and clubs.

Skill Games and Social Casinos

Casino games are usually defined by their reliance on luck and chance. While the degree to which luck serves you differs from game to game, they all have one thing in common; luck is most certainly the biggest factor that leads to victory.

The question then is this; what about games of skill? This refers to any competition where the winner is guaranteed prize money, and the contest relies on individual skills. But, who governs these events? Does the NGA deal with all of it?

The answer is no. Skill games don’t actually fall under the purview of the Netherland Gambling Association. The ones responsible for these events are the ACM, or the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets.

The ACM is an independent regulator, with the goal of championing the rights of both the consumers and the businesses. They do so by ensuring that all businesses follow the rules of the law, and deliver an authentic and quality product to their customer base. After all, the free market, which we so love, is predicated on that simple rule.

The ACM is also responsible for social casinos. In case you weren’t aware, social casinos are websites where you can gamble without any risk of losing cash. They are a great way to get introduced to these games if you want to try gambling in the future, or if you just want to play your favorite games without the risk.

Closing Statement

Online gambling has become the hot new thing. Naturally, this means that there are more people than ever trying it out. We believe that anyone trying out something new should also learn about how it works and who is behind it. To that end, we hope this article can teach you a little something about the Dutch gambling industry.