TLDR
- The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has issued the first eight licence renewals since the online market launched in 2021.
- Renewed licences run from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2031.
- Brands include TOTO, Holland Casino, Kansino, FairPlay Casino, Bingoal, Bet365, GG Poker, and Betcity.
- The KSA introduced stricter rules requiring operators to explain past compliance failures.
- A new exit plan requirement now applies to every applicant, detailing how they would wind down operations if needed.
The Dutch Gambling Authority, known as the KSA, announced on Thursday that it has renewed licences for eight online gambling operators. This marks the first renewal round since the legal market opened in the Netherlands in 2021.
The new licences will cover a five year period. They run from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2031.
The original licences from 2021 are set to expire at the end of September 2026. Every licence holder had to apply for a new permit covering the next five years.
Which Operators Received Renewals
The eight companies that received renewed licences include TOTO Online BV, which operates the TOTO and Winnitt brands. Holland Casino NV also received a renewal for its Holland Casino Online brand.
Other renewed operators include Play North Limited, which runs Kansino, and FPO Nederland BV, the company behind FairPlay Casino. Bingoal Nederland BV kept its licence for the Bingoal brand.
Hillside, which operates Bet365, also received a renewal. NSUS Malta Limited, the company behind GG Poker, was approved as well. Betent BV, which runs Betcity, rounds out the list.
All eight companies were already operating in the Dutch market before this renewal round. So far, no new operators have received approval to enter the market.
Two companies that held original licences, LiveScore and Tombola, left the Dutch market in 2024. They did not apply for renewal.
Stricter Rules For This Round
The KSA used a more detailed review process for this round compared to 2021. This follows new policy rules the regulator set out in September 2025.
One rule requires operators that faced compliance problems in the past five years to explain what they learned from those issues. Operators must also show how they plan to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.
The KSA said it may deny a licence or add extra conditions if an operator’s explanation is not strong enough.
This rule caused some worry among operators. Many feared the renewal process would become harder to pass.
Bjorn Fuchs, chairman of the operator group VNLOK, said there was relief in the room when the KSA explained how the rule would work in practice. He said operators with a clean compliance record only need to submit a simple declaration.
Every applicant, regardless of past record, must now submit an exit plan. This is a new requirement for this renewal round.
The exit plan must explain how an operator would wind down its business if its licence is not renewed or gets revoked. It also applies if a company chooses to leave the market early.
The KSA said several operators received extra points for attention. This means they passed the legal requirements but the regulator expects them to keep improving their compliance practices.
In June, TOTO Online BV was reported for breaking the ban on using role models in its advertising. The company was also fined in 2022 for running ads that appeared to target young people.
