| Updated: October 2, 2024The Netherlands has a flourishing economy heavily dependent on foreign trade. Although it would be exaggerated to say that Dutch people are passionate about gambling, they enjoy wagering on football, ice hockey, korfball, field hockey, and motorsports. A report by Alternar shows that the Dutch sports betting market grew from $26.1 billion in 2019 to $36.4 billion in 2021. A curious fact is that the world’s oldest lottery, which is still active today, is the Dutch National Lottery.
For decades, the Dutch government refused to regulate the online gambling industry. The country invested a lot of effort to block even reputable operators. But in 2021, the legal landscape in the Netherlands dramatically changed after the Remote Gambling Act came into force. At the moment of writing, offshore operators can target Dutch punters if they obtain a license from the Dutch Gaming Authority, also known as Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).
Best Sports Betting Sites in the Netherlands
Operators must meet a lot of requirements to obtain a Dutch license. That explains why there are only a few licensed betting sites. Our dedicated team has compiled a list of the most reliable sportsbooks that accept punters from the Netherlands.
Best Sports Betting Bonuses in the Netherlands
The Dutch sports betting market is quite lucrative, and the competition among operators is fierce. Operators usually offer various sports betting bonuses to stand out from the rest. But not all sports betting bonuses are equal. Some betting sites feature generous promotions with steep wagering requirements. That is why punters must always read the bonus terms and conditions before claiming a promotion. A crucial thing to mention is that in December 2022, the KSA announced that licensed operators are no longer allowed to offer cashback bonuses.
Match Deposit Bonuses Free Bets Boosted OddsMatch Deposit Bonuses
Match deposit bonuses are popular among sports fans from the Netherlands. Most online sportsbooks offer match deposit bonuses to entice newcomers and retain existing bettors. If you claim a match deposit bonus, the operator will boost your deposit by a percentage up to a certain amount. For example, if a sportsbook offers a match deposit bonus of 100% up to €100 and you deposit €50, you will receive €50 bonus funds.
However, bonus funds cannot be cashed out immediately. Punters have to meet the bonus turnover and comply with the minimum odds restriction before being able to withdraw their profits. Note that bettors must make a qualifying deposit to claim a match deposit bonus.
Free Bets
Another promotion that Dutch punters can benefit from comes in the form of free bets. In a nutshell, free bet credits allow sports fans to place a wager without risking their funds. If the bet settles as a win, punters will collect the profit of the bet. Keep in mind that only the winnings from the free bet will be added to your balance. If the bet loses, your bankroll will not be affected. To qualify for a free bet bonus, you may be required to place a wager on a certain sport or market.
Boosted Odds
Dutch-friendly gambling sites also offer enhanced odds on specific bets. This means that you can make a bigger profit for the same amount of risk involved. Betting sites usually show the previous odds of the bet before the boost. Thus, punters can easily calculate how big the odds boost is. Some licensed betting sites offer enhanced odds on a daily basis.
Betting Regulation in the Netherlands
Dutch people undoubtedly like betting on sports. Figures from Statista show that sports betting contributed the most toward the value of the Dutch iGaming market in 2018. The Betting and Gaming Act of 1964 (Wet op de Kansspelen 1964, most often referred to as the Wok) is the first piece of legislation related to gambling. It stipulates that land-based gambling and sports betting activities are legal if offered by licensed operators.
But according to the Act, only one license could be awarded. In other words, this Act established a state monopoly, and the only company authorized to offer sports betting services to Dutch punters was Nederlandse Loterij. At the moment of writing, the company operates all betting shops in the Netherlands as well as the betting site of Toto Sportweddenschappen.
Online and land-based lotteries are subject to a monopoly held by Nederlandse Loterij, while Holland Casino has a monopoly on land-based casino gambling. But the Betting and
Gaming Act of 1964 did not mention anything about remote gambling. That is why online gambling was considered unregulated. But according to the Dutch government, online gambling is illegal, and operators who infringe the law will be prosecuted and fined.
The Netherlands Liberalizes Its Online Sports Betting Market Responsible Gambling in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands Liberalizes Its Online Sports Betting Market
Because the Netherlands is a member of the European Union, it has to comply with the free trade laws of the EU. But the gambling monopoly was in violation of the free trade laws. Thus, the Netherlands could not block unlicensed online casinos and sportsbooks due to the fact that it did not provide operators with the opportunity to obtain a license.
In 2012, a new gambling regulator called Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) was established, replacing the Netherlands Gaming Control Board founded in 1996. With the establishment of the new gambling regulator, talks of liberalizing the Dutch gambling and sports betting market have emerged. In 2014, the Dutch government introduced plans to liberalize the online gambling and sports betting market.
Unfortunately, the Dutch gambling market remained in limbo until 2019, when the Dutch Senate passed the Remote Gambling Act, opening the market to foreign operators. The law came into force on 1st April 2021, establishing strict regulatory requirements for foreign operators who want to obtain a Dutch license. By September 2021, ten operators were awarded Dutch licenses.
Two are the main reasons the Dutch government decided to dismantle the monopolistic regime and liberalize its gambling and sports betting market. First, the government could not prevent Dutch players and bettors from accessing foreign sites. Second, by legalizing online gambling, the government can protect Dutch players and punters from rogue operators.
Responsible Gambling in the Netherlands
The minimum age requirement to wager on sports is 18 years old. Individuals below this age are not allowed to participate in any gambling or sports betting activities. Under the Remote Gambling Act, licensed operators must feature a prevention policy that should be created in collaboration with experts on gambling addiction. Licensees are also required to provide information about the risks of gambling.
Besides, setting deposit limits and maximum time spent must be mandatory. Sports fans can lower the limits immediately while increasing them will take a week. The exact amount of the maximum deposit limit is yet to be determined. Bettors and casino enthusiasts should be able to temporarily or permanently exclude themselves in the central exclusion database called “CRUKS”.
Online sportsbooks licensed by the KSA are no longer allowed to offer cashback bonuses. The logic behind this decision is that by providing punters with the opportunity to get back a portion of their losses, operators encourage them to wager more money.
Unlicensed operators whose annual turnover from Dutch punters exceeds €15 million will face a hefty fine of 4% of their turnover, with the minimum being €600,000. The country will also introduce tough restrictions on gambling commercials. In 2023, a ban on untargeted advertising came into force. From 2024, online gambling sponsorships of sports programs and events will be prohibited. And the following year, a ban on sponsoring sports facilities and shirts will be introduced.