Overview of Dutch gambling

The 2014 annual report issued by Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit last week offers some interesting statistics regarding the Dutch market:

* 22 investigations were launched by the KSA into illegal online gambling, and 19 enquiries were started regarding illegal promotion of online gambling; the results are not recorded;

* The regulator shut down “several” illegal operators, both Dutch and internationals offering online gambling to Dutch punters;

* The Dutch legal overall gambling market generated Euro 2.2 billion in 2013, with Euro 480 million accruing in taxes and Euro 495 million paid out to charity by the national lottery;

* But the estimated turnover of the illegal operators (including online) was somewhere between Euro 250 and Euro 850 million – that’s a pretty wide guesstimate!

* More than 200 operators have expressed an interest in online licensing to the KSA;

* In 2017 land-based Holland Casino group is to be privatised, with as many as 16 private casino licenses issued. In the same year it is likely that the lotteries will be the subject of a new licensing regime (previously reported);

* The regulator has repeatedly advised online operators that if they indulge in illegal activity in the Dutch market prior to liberalisation they run the risk of being denied licensing when the market is legalised (previously reported).

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