TLDR
- Holland Casino Online received a five-year extension to its Dutch online gambling licence.
- The new licence begins October 1, 2026 and runs until at least 2031.
- The Netherlands Gaming Authority approved the renewal on Thursday.
- The extension comes after a gambling tax hike added costs for the operator.
- CEO Petra de Ruiter said player protection remains the top focus going forward.
Holland Casino Online has been granted a five-year extension to its online gambling licence in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Gaming Authority, known as Kansspelautoriteit, announced the decision on Thursday.
The new licence term will start on October 1, 2026. It allows Holland Casino Online to keep offering its games within the regulated Dutch market until at least 2031.
The renewal shows the regulator’s continued support for Holland Casino Online. The operator has held a licence in the Dutch market since it opened to regulation.
Petra de Ruiter, chief executive of Holland Casino, spoke about the extension. She said the company will keep focusing on a safe and responsible online offering.
“Player protection always comes first,” de Ruiter said. She added that the regulated market needs to stay attractive enough to keep players away from unregulated sites.
Player Protection And Market Rules
De Ruiter said supervision and protection are missing from unregulated gambling providers. She said this makes it important for the licensed market to remain a strong option for players.
The regulator has also been dealing with other issues in the market this year. Kansspelautoriteit recently addressed claims that two operators broke the rules on gambling ads.
The watchdog said Betcity and TOTO Winkel had violated a ban on using role models in gambling advertising. This ban is part of wider rules the government has placed on gambling marketing.
The Dutch government introduced a near total ban on online gambling ads in June. The rule was part of a broader plan to reduce gambling harm across the country.
Tax Hike Adds Costs For Operator
The licence extension comes months after a gambling tax hike took effect in the Netherlands. The tax rate rose to 34.2 percent of gross gaming revenue starting in January 2025.
The rate increased again this year to 37.8 percent. This marked the full tax hike that lawmakers had approved.
Holland Casino was one of the first operators to speak out against the tax increase. The company said the higher rate would cut into its profits going forward.
The operator reported that the first tax hike added 13.5 million euros in extra costs during the first half of 2025. This was tied directly to the higher tax rate on gaming revenue.
The government said it would work with Holland Casino on the impact of the tax hike. This came after officials confirmed last year that Holland Casino would not be sold to private owners.
The Ministry of Finance had said it expected to collect an extra 200 million euros per year from the tax hike between 2025 and 2028. That estimate was shared in September when the tax increase was first approved.
The five-year licence extension now gives Holland Casino Online a clear path forward in the regulated market through at least 2031.
