Dutch Gambling Authority raises the bar for online licences

Stricter oversight meets political uncertainty ahead of 2026 renewals

The Netherlands has unveiled a fresh set of licensing rules for remote gambling, tightening oversight ahead of the renewal round for operators. Published in the Official Gazette on 2nd September 2025 and scheduled to take effect on 1st January 2026, the policy update underscores the Dutch Gambling Authority’s (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) intent to balance consumer protection with market stability.

The revised framework arrives at a pivotal moment. Current five-year licences, first issued in September 2021, are set to expire on 1st October 2026. Renewal applicants will now face tougher conditions, signalling the KSA’s determination to draw lessons from its first licensing cycle.

Exit plans and financial safeguards

One of the headline measures is the mandatory submission of an exit plan. Operators must outline how they intend to responsibly wind down operations should their licence be revoked or lapse. This plan must address legal and financial obligations, technical procedures, and communications with players and regulators. Crucially, it must guarantee that customer balances are swiftly and fully paid out in the event of a market exit.

The KSA has further formalised requirements around player fund protection. Operators must demonstrate that customer balances are kept segregated, typically through a Dutch escrow foundation (stichting derdengelden) or an equivalent structure. Proof of such arrangements will be required within two months of a licence being granted.

In addition, the rules specify that payment flows between players and operators must be safeguarded through approved financial instruments. The regulator has also reinforced its anti-money laundering (AML) checks, requiring applicants to file a risk analysis consistent with Dutch and EU standards.

Reliability under the microscope

Integrity has been placed at the core of the revised regime. Under the updated framework, applicants with a history of failing to comply with Dutch court rulings or regulatory obligations may be deemed unreliable. The KSA will also continue to apply its BIBOB screening (anti-fraud integrity assessment), giving it the power to deny or revoke licences where criminal ties or suspicious financial arrangements are uncovered.

This stricter reliability test reflects a growing regulatory emphasis across Europe on governance and accountability. For the KSA, it ensures that operators entering or remaining in the Dutch market align with both public policy objectives and consumer safeguards.

The retention of a fixed five-year licence term is deliberate. By tying renewals to a clear timetable, the KSA aims to use supervisory insights from the first licensing cycle when assessing follow-up applications. Should an operator’s submissions on areas like AML compliance, player protection, or exit planning fall short, the authority reserves the right to refuse renewal or attach additional conditions.

Political turbulence in the background

The regulatory tightening coincides with a period of political upheaval in The Hague. On 22 August, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned, triggering a wave of nine further ministerial and state secretary departures. Among them was Teun Struycken, the State Secretary for Legal Protection responsible for gambling oversight.

The resignations were sparked by opposition to the government’s stance on sanctions against Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Struycken’s departure initially raised doubts about the continuity of gambling reforms.

To steady the portfolio, the government has since appointed Arno Rutte, a former VVD parliamentarian, as the new State Secretary for Legal Protection. His arrival restores direct political leadership over the gambling brief, though uncertainty lingers given the broader instability.

That instability traces back to the collapse of the four-party governing coalition in June, when Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV) withdrew its support, toppling the government. A snap election is now scheduled for 29 October, leaving gambling oversight reforms to advance under a caretaker administration.

Continuity under pressure

For the gambling sector, the combination of tighter regulation and political uncertainty creates a challenging but clarifying environment. On one hand, the KSA is signalling to operators that renewal is by no means automatic; it must be earned through compliance and credible planning. On the other hand, shifting political sands could influence how consistently these reforms are implemented.

What is clear is that the Dutch market is entering a new phase of maturity. The regulator has learnt from five years of experience, embedding safeguards that protect players and insulate the sector against disorderly exits. Whether this regime will be overseen by a stable administration after October remains an open question, but for operators, preparation for the 2026 renewal process has already begun.