Unrest grows among Holland Casino staff due to tax plan
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19 Sep 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes There is unrest at Holland Casino. Not on the work floor, but above it, in political The Hague. There is a good chance that gambling tax will increase again on 1 January 2026. And the staff are feeling the effects.
Tension is mounting, because the consequences could be severe.
Trade union De Unie sounds the alarm and continues to fight
De Unie, a trade union that represents salaried employees, has been in talks with Holland Casino for weeks. Together, they are trying to convince politicians that this second tax increase is simply not a good idea. But let’s be honest: the chances of the plan being reversed are slim.
Two state secretaries who were previously involved have already resigned. That doesn’t help, of course. The expectation is that the increase will simply be included in the 2026 Tax Plan. Nevertheless, De Unie is not giving up.
Employees are holding their breath for what this means
For many people at Holland Casino, this is a hard blow. What if the company has to cut costs? What does that mean for their jobs, their wages, their future? You can’t keep running on good intentions alone. People want certainty.
The situation is reminiscent of previous occasions when Holland Casino warned of the consequences of higher gambling taxes. At the time, it was already clear that these measures would not affect profits, but people.
Lower profits could mean pressure on staff
Holland Casino has already hinted that profits will dry up for the time being if this increase goes ahead. That means: marking time. Taking a more critical look at costs. And therefore possibly also at personnel.
According to De Unie, the bill should not be footed by the employees. They are keeping a close eye on everything: from consultations with the works council to what is actually happening on the work floor.
A higher tax rate does not only affect the figures. It also affects people. Even if things seem to be going well, as with recent sales results, Holland Casino remains highly vulnerable.
Croupiers score small victory after payment for breaks
Fortunately, there are also small victories. Croupiers who work so-called “brush shifts” (early or late shifts) were initially not paid for their breaks. Many people were unhappy about this. De Unie felt that this had to change and took action.
And with success: Holland Casino now pays for breaks again. Not out of conviction, but for “operational reasons”. It sounds vague, but the result counts. Nevertheless, the Union remains vigilant. If the casino backtracks, legal action will follow. They are ready for it.