Gambling is a popular leisure activity that attracts many people all over the globe. Moreover, it gives you the opportunity to win some money while enjoying your hobby. The rise of online casinos initially confused the authorities of many countries. Some countries decided to give the green light to online casinos and attract fresh income to the treasury. Others were reluctant to regulate the remote gambling industry because of its addictive nature.
Quite surprisingly, the Netherlands was among the countries that preferred to shut its doors to the online gambling industry and not interfere with it. As time passed, casino enthusiasts realized the advantages that come with this form of gambling and started to look for ways to bypass the law and embark on a virtual gambling journey. This prompted the country’s legislators to consider the right course of action: impose stricter measures or relax the rules and regulate remote gambling.
Overview of the Netherlands Gambling Industry
The Netherlands is widely known for its liberal approach to many activities that most other countries condemn as improper. However, remote gambling is another matter, as Dutch legislators believe it might endanger Dutch residents.
It is no secret that the Netherlands has a stable economy and people enjoy a high standard of living. Therefore, they can afford to spend more on their favorite gambling activities. This, however, creates favorable conditions for the development of gambling addiction. Perhaps that is the driving force behind the legislators’ decision to outlaw remote gambling.
The Dutch gambling industry has been monopolized since 1970. Only the Dutch state-owned company, Holland Casino, was authorized to manage the country’s gambling industry, operate licensed land-based casinos, and oversee every gambling niche. You might be interested to learn that the first Dutch brick-and-mortar casino, Zandvoort, opened its doors as far back as 1970.
According to information published on the official site of the Dutch gambling regulator, the revenue generated from the legal gambling sector is over €2 billion.
When online gambling came into play, the Dutch Gaming Authority Kansspelautoriteit made it clear that no online casino operator was allowed to offer its services to Dutch residents or allow them to open an account. Needless to say, the warning did not stop casino operators from targeting the lucrative Dutch market.
This led to another move by the Dutch regulator. In 2005, Kansspelautoriteit ruled that operators allowing Dutch residents to place bets at their casinos would be considered criminals. This did not result in significant changes. The situation escalated, and big operators decided to bring this ruling to court. According to them, these actions were against EU law and should be overturned.
However, the Netherlands Supreme Court banned online gambling, explaining that this move would protect Dutch citizens from the addictive nature of gambling. Apparently, this did not stop aspiring casino fans from playing at online casinos. The Dutch government realized that, no matter what they did, they could not monitor every corner of the Internet.
The Future of the Netherlands’ Online Gambling MarketThe Dutch government started eyeing the opportunity to regulate the online gambling market. In 2019, the upper house of the Netherlands legislature approved the Draft Bill on Remote Gambling Act. This will allow casino operators to apply for a license in the Netherlands and legally offer their gambling services. Under this piece of legislation, operators will be taxed at 29.1% of gross revenue.
Players, on the other hand, do not need to pay taxes on their winnings. Currently, it is still illegal to play at an online casino if you are a Dutch resident, but we expect the situation to change in the near future. According to the latest information on the matter, the opening of the market will be delayed until July 2021 to provide the government with more time to craft secondary gambling legislation.
Under the secondary legislation, virtual casinos that have targeted the Dutch market within the 30 months preceding their license application will not be allowed to apply for a license for six months.
Dutch-Friendly Payment Methods
The variety of payment methods is a crucial factor when choosing an online casino. This way, you can select the solution that best fits your needs. Some methods are faster than others, but the most important thing is to make sure you can trust the one you prefer. In the lines below, we shed light on several popular Dutch-friendly payment options.
Bank Cards
Prepaid Cards
Entropay
iDeal
e-Wallets
Exclusive Promotions for Dutch Players
To encourage players to choose their platform, operators offer a variety of promotions that reward both newcomers and regular patrons. Because competition among online casinos is intense, each operator strives to craft unique offers. Needless to say, some are more generous than others. When hunting for the best deals, always review the bonus terms to get the most from each incentive. Below, we discuss some of the most common and lucrative bonuses available to Dutch players:
Deposit Match Bonus
Free Spins
Cashback Bonus
No Deposit Bonus
VIP ProgramBonus Terms
It is essential to read and understand the terms related to each bonus you consider claiming. Keep in mind that virtual casinos are business entities that are trying to promote their services. In that sense, Dutch players should know that all promotions come with certain wagering requirements, also known as playthrough or rollover. The bonus funds must be wagered a specific number of times before you are allowed to withdraw your winnings. Another key aspect is game contribution. While staking the bonus, you should keep in mind that different games have different contribution percentages toward clearing the playthrough. For example, if table games have a 5% contribution, a total bet of $100 will be counted as $5 toward the wagering requirement. To prevent bonus abuse, casinos set a limit on the maximum bet while a bonus is active. Needless to say, each bonus is valid for a limited time.
Some casinos do not allow players to benefit from promotions if they have made a deposit using certain payment methods, such as Skrill or Neteller. Last but not least, some operators impose a maximum withdrawal limit.
Another important thing to mention is that each player is allowed to benefit from the Welcome Bonus only once upon registration. Dutch casino mavens should also be aware that they can activate only one bonus at a time. There are various ways to claim the bonuses, depending on the casino’s policy. Some require players to use a certain bonus code, while others allow players to claim the bonuses via their accounts. In some cases, you might need to get in touch with the customer support representatives to trigger a bonus.
Popular Software Providers in the Netherlands
The games you find at a casino are created by third-party software suppliers. When choosing an online casino, always review the developers that power its library. The provider determines every feature of a game, including graphics, quality, and mobile compatibility.
Poor quality quickly drives players elsewhere. Fortunately for Dutch gamblers, many sites targeting this market are powered by leading companies, including but not limited to:
NetEnt
Playtech
Novomatic
Microgaming
BetsoftTop 10 Casinos in the Netherlands
Choosing an online casino is a task that deserves careful attention. Before making a decision, Dutch players should ensure the site is fully licensed and compliant with local laws. They should also examine the available promotions, as some incentives come with sky-high wagering requirements.
Another factor is the casino’s user interface. We recommend sites with an uncluttered, easy-to-navigate layout. If you are an aspiring casino enthusiast in the Netherlands, consider the list of casinos we regard as excellent choices.
BitStarz Casino
Slots Magic Casino
Casumo Casino
LeoVegas Casino
Speedy Casino
SlotV Casino
Casino Joy
Betsson Casino
PlayOJO Casino
Betway Casino