1 billion in taxes: the gambling boom in the Netherlands
•
1 Apr 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes In 2024, the Netherlands raised a record €1 billion in gambling taxes, mainly thanks to the boom in online gambling since its legalisation in 2021. This rapid growth has been accompanied by a gradual increase in tax rates, reaching 34.2% this year and forecast to rise to 37.8% in 2025.
In 2024, the Netherlands reached a significant milestone by collecting a record €1 billion in gambling taxes, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This increase is mainly attributed to the rapid growth of the online gambling sector, which will be legalised in October 2021.
Exponential growth in tax revenues
Three years ago, gambling taxes brought in €343 million. The leap to €1 billion in 2024 is therefore remarkable. In 2021, land-based casinos had been hit hard by closures linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a drop in revenue. However, the situation has changed radically since then.
Online gambling contributed €500 million last year, according to CBS data. The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) notes that online betting now accounts for more than a third of the industry. Consumer spending also reflects this trend, rising from €2.5 billion in 2021 to €4.4 billion in 2023, calculated as bets minus winnings.
Tax developments in the gaming sector
Tax policy has played a key role in this increase in revenue. For casinos and local online platforms, operators pay taxes on revenues, i.e. total bets minus winnings. Lotteries, on the other hand, tax winners directly.
The tax rate has changed over time. In 2019, it was 30.1%. When online gaming was launched, it was lowered to 29% for 2021 and 2022, and the €449 winnings threshold was temporarily abolished. In 2023, it rose again to 30.5%. This year, it has risen to 34.2%, with a projected increase to 37.8% in 2025.
Reactions and implications for the industry
Three gaming associations, NOGA, VAN Kansspelen and VNLOK, have expressed concern about the viability of the regulated offer in the face of these tax increases. They believe that these increases could lead to a reduction in legal gambling and an increase in illegal gambling, thereby compromising consumer protection objectives.
The Dutch gaming market shows no signs of slowing down. Last month, proposals emerged to raise the minimum age for high-risk games from 18 to 21. The Ksa could also be given new tools to block offshore operators targeting Dutch players.
In addition, the Dutch authorities have banned untargeted advertising for online gambling from 1 July 2023, in order to protect vulnerable groups, particularly young people, from the risks associated with gambling.