Population: 17.000.000
Active players: 8.900.000
Currency: Euro
Regulated gambling products: sports betting, land based casinos & poker, lotteries, horse racing
Operator types: sports betting monopoly (De Lotto), unlicensed betting sites, brick & mortar casino monopoly (Holland Casino)
Designated authority: Netherlands Gaming Control Board (Kansspelautoriteit)
Status: Non regulated. Betting sites are persecuted when operating in Dutch language
The Netherlands is one of the most progressive countries in the world, both in economic and cultural terms. The birthplace of Johan Cruyff and total football, holds liberal views on most everyday aspects, as the Dutch heritage celebrates diversity and freedom of action. Contrary to this fact though, the Dutch government has lagged behind when it comes to correct gaming regulation, as they have until recently retained the outdated view that the state should be the sole gambling provider. Thankfully for local bettors, the government has announced a new licensing system will be implemented that will allow foreign and Dutch betting sites to legally operate in the Netherlands. The bill has been thus far accepted by the Senate and is expected to be put into effect sometime in 2020, which is when bookmakers will be able to start applying for a Dutch license. As the situation stands right now the NGA has not announced an official date. Due to the absence of regulated Dutch bookies, players tend to place their bets in international online bookmakers.
Bet in Holland – 5 things you should know
- A new gambling law will be effective some time in 2020
- You can place your sports bets wherever you want
- The Dutch government has unsuccessfully tried to block access on iGaming operators
- No legal actions have been taken against players
- Your winnings are not taxed. Players are taxed 29% only on winnings they get from local betting sites
Best Netherlands Betting sites
Without further ado, we present to you the beste bookmakers (as the locals would say) the Netherlands has to offer. These bookies accept Dutch players and were selected based on how competitive their odds are, if they offer a variety of markets and events, and whether they support all the local payments. To top it off, all of them accompany your registration with a great welcome bonus.
Online betting in Netherlands
Online betting is freely enjoyed in the nation of Netherlands as the lawmakers’ attempts to block payments on foreign bookmakers have been proven fruitless. The only restriction comes in terms of the website language and offering iDEAL as a payment method, as in the past, the Kansspelautoriteit has warned it would fine any betting sites that offer their sportsbook in Dutch. Another restriction posed by the government forbids international “online goksites” to advertise their products to players from the region. The current lack of a licensing system means that bookies have no legal or financial obligations towards the state and can technically accept players from every part of Holland.
The upcoming Remote Gambling Act will modernize the Dutch iGaming market, as it is set to follow in the footsteps of Spain.. A unified 29% tax on GGR (plus another 2% on contributions to NGA and the Gambling fund) will be required from every operator, in order to obtain a five-year licence. Dutch lawmakers have promised to lower the tax requirements to 20%, to allow for increased competitiveness inside the market. Financially speaking all that may seem too much. However, operators thinking of entering the region should note that the Netherlands’ impressive GDP per capita (5th in the EU) makes it a very appealing market. In other words, the investment for a license will be more than made up for. As a result, we expect all the big names, like bet365 and Unibet, to apply for a license when the application process opens up.
Is it legal for Dutch players to play online?
Local bettors can access any number of online bookmakers from any part of the world. The Netherlands Gambling Authority does not specifically forbid online gaming activities, meaning that no legal action can be taken towards any player who wishes to punt on the internet. However, this also means that punters are unprotected in the face of scam bookies, as the current legislation does not guarantee their financial security. Once again, this is bound to change sometime in 2020, as the Remote Gambling Act will heavily fine and consequently revoke the licence of any operators who try to cheat Dutch players.
Bookmakers Nederland – Where to bet online
The laissez faire nature of the Dutch betting market works to the benefit of both foreign operators and local punters, as the lack of financial obligations, means that betting sites can easily offer higher odds and various bookmakers promotions. Every bookie worth his salt has a presence in the Netherlands, as Dutch players regularly enjoy sports betting. Currently, most wagers are placed on Bwin Nederlands, who are expected to continue dominating the local market following the upcoming legislation changes. Other key bookmakers include Karamba, LVBet and Intertops.
Βet365 Nederlands and other bookies that exited the market
It’s only natural that huge bookies like Βet365 Netherlands pulled away from the region once the restrictions by the government were put into effect. Bet365.nl, the bookmaker’s Dutch domain, has been down for quite some time now, which was a huge disappointment for fans of the English Premier League where the bookie has a longstanding tradition of excellent betting options. Other well-known names that exited the market and chose to wait for license applications to be officially announced were Unibet, 1xBet and Betfair.
Sports betting in Netherlands
Football is huge in the region and the number one choice of punters in many voetbal gokken sites. Well-known clubs like Eredivisie clubs Ajax and PSV are often the frontrunners in big events like UEFA Champions League which justifies the reason why local bettors choose them. When it comes to foreign leagues such as the English Premier League or Serie A, Bwin Nederlands and other international Dutch betting sites offer bettors a great range of markets on both live and pre-match.
Other popular sports include Field Hockey, with the Netherlands’ national team showing great potential, having won 17 medals in the Olympics. Volleyball is wildly popular among betting crowds too, who opt for popular events such as the CEV Champions League to place their bets. We also wouldn’t expect from such a cycling-loving country to not bet on events like the UCI World Track Cycling Championship at which they have won 40 + gold medals. Fight sports like kickboxing are also picking up in the preference of Dutch bettors.
Like we mentioned above, the government had attempted to block transactions taking place with online bookmakers, however, they were largely ignored from Dutch banks and payment service providers. Every major or lesser known payment method can be used, including bank cards, vouchers, e-wallets like Neteller & Skrill, as well as the local iDEAL, which is a payment system that lets its users deposit and withdraw on any bookmaker directly through their bank accounts.
Future of online gambling in Netherlands
The gears are finally turning in the Netherlands and if all goes as planned, local players will benefit from the new licensing system. Although some people might claim that taxing the betting sites will result in lowered odds, we highly doubt that 29% on GGR will make investing in the Dutch market commercially unviable. We also should not forget that the current structure does not safeguard punters who might fall victim to illegitimate betting sites. What remains is to be seen is how many bookmakers will actually apply for these new licences.
Best Dutch betting sites
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Q: Does Unibet accept Netherlands players?
Unibet’s Nederlandse site has been down for some time now. However, we expect that once the new bill is officially implemented and the licence process begins they will enter the market. What remains to be seen is whether they will enter it as a betting exchange or sportsbook.
Q: When is Betfair Nederland going to go live again?
Betfair is another company that chose to exit the market in anticipation of getting a licence to legally operate in the region. We anticipate that at the beginning of 2020, they too will start accepting Dutch players after the market turns into a regulated state. What remains to be seen is whether they will do so as a betting exchange or sportsbook.
Q: Is Pinnacle available to bettors from the Netherlands?
Even though it can be used to add funds on some wallets or other payment options, when it comes to using it in connection with a Paysafecard, Boku doesn’t offer any alternatives. You can choose one or the other to deposit at bookmakers.
Q: When is 1xbet Nederland entering the Dutch market again?
When it comes to market variety 1xBet is unparalleled. So, it’s only logical that Dutch bettors received its decision to exit the market with disappointment, following a 400,000 fine issued to the operator by the NGA. Not to worry though as the bookie is expected to enter the market once it gets regulated.
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