Key Moments:
- The KSA’s revised online gambling licensing rules will be enforced starting 1 January 2026
- Operators must submit detailed exit strategies and new risk analyses under the updated requirements
- Existing licensees face stricter follow-up licence procedures, including reassessments and integration tests
Regulatory Changes Introduced for Dutch Online Gambling Licences
The Netherlands’ Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has updated its rules governing online gambling licences. The new framework takes effect on 1 January 2026. It prepares both new and existing operators for the end of the first five-year licences, which began in September 2021 and expire in October 2026.
These revisions affect all prospective and current licence holders. Key changes focus on boosting compliance, enhancing player protection, and increasing transparency within the Dutch gambling market.
Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has announced that all applicants for a remote gambling licence must now include an “exit plan”, outlining how they would leave the market if their licence expired.
— iGB (@iGamingBusiness) September 2, 2025
Key Licence Application Requirements
According to the KSA, anyone applying for a licence to operate in the Netherlands must now provide extensive documentation. Among the new requirements is a detailed plan explaining how operators will notify the regulator about any major changes in operations or company policies.
Applicants must also submit an ‘exit plan.’ This document explains how they will wind down gambling services if the KSA does not renew their permit. This plan should detail the process for completely withdrawing from the Dutch market if the licence is not extended past the initial five-year period.
Additionally, a risk assessment aligned with the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (WWFT) is required. Non-compliance with enforceable court decisions at the time of application will be treated as a signal of unreliability and may lead to licence denial.
Requirement | Details |
---|---|
Change Notification Plan | Must outline how operators will inform KSA of significant policy or operational changes |
Exit Plan | Explains phased market withdrawal if licence is not renewed |
WWFT Risk Analysis | Comprehensive risk review as per Dutch anti-money laundering laws |
Court Ruling Compliance | Non-compliance may result in application rejection |
Procedures for Licence Renewal Applicants
Operators already active in the Dutch market must follow a separate renewal process when applying for a new licence. The renewal procedure requires the KSA to re-evaluate player protection strategies and advertising practices. It also introduces a new integration test for the control database (CDB).
The KSA expects applicants to address any previous regulatory shortcomings or violations from the last five years, providing documentation demonstrating corrective action and improvements made. As stated, “Providers that made mistakes in the past five years must explain during the application process how they have learned from previous mistakes and how they intend to prevent recurrence. If we find this explanation insufficient, the permit may be denied or additional conditions and restrictions may be imposed.”
The five-year licence interval enables the regulator to review each operator’s recent history before granting a renewal.
Penalties and Ongoing Compliance
Recent enforcement initiatives underline the authority’s uncompromising approach. As an example, Unibet faced a possible penalty of up to €450,000 ($524,000) for violations related to bonus advertising guidelines. The KSA has reiterated its stance that non-adherence to final or provisionally enforceable court rulings may disqualify an operator for being perceived as unreliable.
“If providers have not complied with final or provisionally enforceable court rulings at the time of their application, their reliability is not beyond doubt. This constitutes grounds for refusing a licence,” the KSA said in its official release.
Market Dynamics and Regulatory Headwinds
The regulated Dutch online gambling market launched on 1 October 2021. Since then, players have been able to access licensed platforms for casino and sports betting. Nevertheless, licensed entities continue to face difficulty attracting those players who are turning to illegal websites.
A significant policy move this year saw the KSA outlaw all forms of sports sponsorship by gambling firms. This prohibition encompasses athletes, teams, competitions, apparel, and marketing materials. The regulator noted that public gambling sponsorships have largely disappeared, barring isolated incidents that resulted in formal warnings.
However, concerns about the continued appeal of illegal gambling options remain. Peter-Paul de Goeij, founder of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA), commented, “Official figures show that only 49% of online gambling revenue goes to licensed operators, meaning the majority flows into unregulated, illegal channels.”
Onerous deposit limits and advertising controls have been cited as potential reasons for migration toward unauthorized platforms. According to KSA reporting, illegal gambling websites attract more than one million users, though the regulator asserts that 93% of Dutch players consistently use sites with official licences.
Enforcement Against Illegal Gambling Promotion
To curb illegal gambling activity, the KSA has begun scrutinizing media channels that may promote companies outside the Cruks self-exclusion registry. The regulator stated, “Active promotion aimed at this vulnerable target group is therefore very harmful.”
As part of enhanced oversight, the authority will supervise the entire marketing supply chain, including agencies that publish paid content for unlicensed operators. Such agencies could be reported to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) and the Advertising Code Foundation (SRC) for further action.
Preparing for the Next Licensing Cycle
With the first round of five-year licences set to expire in October 2026, gambling operators must now prepare to meet the new, more rigorous obligations required for renewal. The KSA’s revised guidelines stress the importance of transparent operations, adherence to defined rules, and robust consumer safeguards.
Those wishing to maintain a presence in the Dutch market will have to prove operational reliability, comply with advertising restrictions, and implement thorough exit plans. Any shortcomings in these areas could result in a denied licence or imposition of strict conditions.
- Author
Daniel Williams
