Dutch Gambling Act

    Overview

    The Dutch Gambling Act, officially called the Remote Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op afstand), regulates online gambling in the Netherlands. It was introduced to modernize the existing Betting and Gaming Act (Wet op de kansspelen, 1964) and provide a legal framework for remote games of chance. The Act enables licensed operators to legally offer online gambling while implementing strong consumer protection, fraud prevention, and addiction control measures.

    Regulation Summary

    Timeline
    • July 7, 2016: Remote Gambling Act passed in the Dutch House of Representatives.
    • February 19, 2019: Passed in the Dutch Senate.
    • April 1,  2021: Law entered into force.
    • October 1,  2021: Market opened to licensed operators.
    • January 1, 2025 - General Policy of Fines entered into force
    What Businesses Are Affected
    • Online gambling providers targeting Dutch residents.
    • Companies offering games of chance (e.g., poker, casino, sports betting) via remote means.
    • Foreign operators that market or make their services available in the Netherlands.
    Exemptions
    • Charity lotteries and state-run lotteries regulated under separate licensing.
    • Land-based gambling establishments not offering remote services.
    Responsibilities for Businesses
    • Obtain a license from the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, Ksa).
    • Conduct risk assessments for addiction, fraud, and money laundering.
    • Monitor user behavior to detect problematic gambling.
    • Offer tools for self-exclusion, deposit limits, and time-outs.
    • Report unusual transactions and potential match-fixing.
    • Keep user data and financial records for at least 5 years.
    • Implement responsible advertising and marketing practices.
    • A local representative in the Netherlands is required.
    Specific Responsibilities for Website Owners
    • Clearly display age verification measures to restrict access to users under 18.
    • Implement sanctions controls by verifying players are not subject to EU or Dutch sanctions lists.
    • Ensure website content is not misleading and does not encourage risky gambling behaviors.
    • Include responsible gambling tools and links to addiction help resources.
    • Provide visible information about licensing and how users can file complaints.
    • Operators must use geolocation tools to prevent access to the website from countries where their license is not valid or where online gambling is prohibited.
    • Websites must not be accessible from jurisdictions where the operator is not authorized to operate, unless explicit permission has been granted by local authorities.
    Additional Requirements
    • Appoint a local representative or office in the Netherlands.
    • Use only payment service providers registered in the EU.
    • Operators must join CRUKS (Central Exclusion Register) to exclude players who opt out.
    • Sector-specific restrictions apply to casino-style games, live sports betting, and advertising aimed at vulnerable groups.
    Individual Rights
    • Players have the right to access, correct, and delete their personal data.
    • Users can opt out of gambling services via CRUKS.
    • Complaints about data use can be addressed to the Ksa or the Dutch Data Protection Authority.
    Enforcement
    • Oversight by Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa).
    • Five levels of fines, ranging from €500 ($514) for minor breaches (Category 1) to €2 million ($2.05 million) for severe violations (Category 5)
    • Repeated or severe offenses may lead to license revocation and criminal prosecution.
    • Enforcement also targets unlicensed foreign operators targeting Dutch users.
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