Holland Casino Online Secures Licence Until 2031 Despite Tax Pressure

Holland Casino Online has reached a significant milestone by securing its presence in the regulated Netherlands market for another half-decade. The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), has officially extended the state-owned giant's licence. This decision takes effect on 1 October 2026 and remains valid until 2031. With this move, the regulator signals full confidence in the operator's compliance with strict licensing standards. However, the celebration of regulatory certainty is dampened by dark clouds on the financial horizon as the company struggles with massive cost increases.

The extension comes at a time when the company is protesting against the fiscal burden imposed by the Dutch state. While market access is now legally cemented until 2031, profitability has become a challenge of its own. The Dutch government has put plans to privatize the state-owned business on hold for now, leaving Holland Casino in a dilemma between its public mandate and commercial competition. The company must now prove itself in an environment characterized by stricter advertising rules and a growing tax burden, all while maintaining player protection as a top priority.

Numbers and facts

The economic framework in the Netherlands has tightened drastically. At the beginning of 2025, the tax rate initially rose to 34.2 percent of Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). Shortly thereafter, the rate was increased to its current peak of 37.8 percent. These fiscal measures are expected to bring the state roughly 200 million euros in additional annual revenue between 2025 and 2028. For Holland Casino, this represents an enormous burden. In the first half of 2025 alone, the operator reported additional costs of 13.5 million euros directly attributable to the first stage of the tax hike.

The Ksa is also strictly monitoring compliance with advertising restrictions. Recently, competitors such as BetCity and TOTO Winkel were in the spotlight for allegedly violating the ban on using role models. Since June, a near-total ban on gambling advertising in public and mass media has been in effect in the Netherlands. In this tense environment, Holland Casino must try to keep customers within the legal sector without exceeding the new, narrow limits of customer acquisition.

Background

Channelization remains a central theme. Holland Casino repeatedly emphasizes that a regulated market can only function if licensed providers remain commercially viable. If the tax burden becomes too high, legal offers could lose attractiveness compared to illegal offshore platforms that pay no taxes and offer no player protection. Petra de Ruiter, CEO of Holland Casino, sees this as a major threat for the coming years.

"We will continue to commit to a safe and responsible online offering, where player protection always comes first. At the same time, it remains essential that the regulated market is attractive enough to keep players away from unregulated providers, where supervision and protection are lacking." - Petra de Ruiter, CEO of Holland Casino

Why it matters for German players

Developments in the neighboring country serve as a signal for German players, even if they cannot directly play at Holland Casino Online. In Germany, the market has been strictly regulated by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) since the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). German customers must adhere to a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros, monitored via the central LUGAS system. Furthermore, a stake limit of 1 euro per round applies to virtual slots. Similar to the Netherlands, the debate over channelization is intense in Germany as well.

Anyone wishing to play safely in Germany must check the GGL whitelist. Only providers listed there guarantee that winnings are reliably paid out and that player protection meets German standards. Providers with licences from Malta (MGA) or Curacao are not legal in Germany for online slots and poker, even if they often lure customers with aggressive bonus offers. The situation in the Netherlands shows that state regulation and high taxes are a difficult balancing act that ultimately affects the quality of the legal gaming offer for the end user.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German licence holders are closely watching the tax debate among their neighbors. In Germany, the gross stake for slots is already taxed at 5.3 percent, which pushes many providers to the brink of profitability. A further increase, similar to what the Netherlands has implemented, could also accelerate the migration of players to the black market here. The GGL therefore faces the task of enforcing player protection while leaving legal providers enough room to compete against illegal competition. The five-year planning security granted to Holland Casino is a luxury that many German operators would also wish for in a constantly changing regulatory environment.