TLDR
- Dutch lawmakers raised concerns about gambling companies re-entering the regulated market through takeovers and complex corporate structures
- The 888 Holdings case drew attention, operating under a licence held by Godwits LTD (ComeOn Group) while owned by evoke plc
- State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen said existing rules and the Kansspelautoriteit regulator are sufficient
- A reliability test and nearly three-year cooling-off period are already in place for licence applicants
- The government has no plans to introduce new restrictions despite ongoing parliamentary pressure
The Dutch government has decided against introducing new rules to stop gambling companies from re-entering the regulated market through indirect means. This comes despite growing concern from lawmakers who believe operators are finding loopholes in the current system.
Members of parliament have questioned whether companies with a history of unlicensed activity can effectively return to the Dutch market. They point to takeovers and layered corporate structures as potential ways around the rules.
The issue gained traction after several MPs, including Mirjam Bikker, Jimmy Dobbe, Tijs van den Brink and Diederik van Dijk, brought it forward. They asked whether the current framework is strong enough to prevent back-door market entry.
One case that drew political attention involves 888 Holdings. The brand has been active in the Netherlands since mid-2025 but operates under a licence held by Godwits LTD, which is part of ComeOn Group.
At the same time, the 888 brand itself is owned by evoke plc. For some lawmakers, this kind of arrangement raises questions about who actually holds legal responsibility for a platform.
The layered ownership structure makes it harder to determine who is really behind a licence. Multiple entities across different jurisdictions can blur the line between compliance and circumvention.
Government Defends Current Regulatory Framework
State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen responded by pushing back on calls for new legislation. She said the existing system already gives the regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit, enough tools to assess applications and act when needed.
At the core of the Dutch system is a reliability test. Companies applying for a licence, along with their executives and owners, are examined closely before approval.
Any past involvement in illegal gambling activities can count against applicants. This applies even if those activities took place outside the Netherlands.
There is also a cooling-off period built into the Remote Gambling Act. Operators must demonstrate they have not targeted Dutch players without a licence for nearly three years before they can apply.
Some applications have already been rejected for failing to meet that standard. The government sees this as proof the system is working as intended.
Enforcement Powers Under Scrutiny
The Kansspelautoriteit has the authority to impose fines, attach conditions to licences, or revoke them entirely. These powers form the backbone of the government’s argument that additional rules are unnecessary.
However, the question remains whether those powers are enough to keep up with increasingly complex business structures. When ownership is spread across multiple companies and countries, assessing responsibility becomes more difficult.
For now, the government appears comfortable leaving those judgments to the regulator. Officials continue to describe the current system as strict enough to handle the challenges.
There are no plans to introduce additional safeguards. The government’s position as of May 2026 is that the existing framework, including the reliability test and cooling-off period, provides sufficient protection against operators attempting to circumvent Dutch gambling regulations.
