Southeast Asia News Desk

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has noted a “sharp contraction in online revenues” stemming from licences under the Netherlands’ Remote Gambling Act (KOA), indicating a structural shift in market dynamics.

In its Jaarverslag Kansspelautoriteit 2025, the Dutch regulator asserts that the overall gambling market stays stable at roughly €4.3bn (£3.7bn), notwithstanding increasing pressure on the online sector.

Figures derived from tax receipts of licensed operators indicate an 18.5% year-on-year drop in online gambling revenues, with KOA activity decreasing to an annual baseline of about €1.2bn – equating to €600m for each half-year.

This drop comes after growth seen in 2024 and mirrors what the KSA terms a “counter-reaction to curb market expansion”.

The downturn was expected after the introduction of tighter regulatory controls, such as a tax hike from 30.5% to 34.2% in January 2025, which is set to rise to 37.8% in 2026. 

In addition to fiscal measures, operators must enforce monthly net deposit caps of €700 for adults and €300 for players aged 18–24, markedly cutting the spending of high-value customers.

The KSA is of the opinion that these measures have changed consumer behaviour within the KOA market. Although player channelisation stays high, with roughly 94% of users betting with licensed operators, revenue channelisation has diminished. 

Nevertheless, data shows the legal GGR share dropped to nearly 49% in early 2025, with the authority cautioning that players in the illegal market are “much less well protected”.

Dutch online gambling trade body VNLOK has contested the KSA’s interpretation, asserting that headline channelisation stats “do not reflect where the money is going,” and cautioning that high-value players are moving to unlicensed operators in growing numbers.

VNLOK contends that the KSA should not make player channelisation a priority, deeming this figure a “false metric” since 50% of GGR seems to be unaccounted for by KOA licences.

Despite the online slump, other verticals have balanced out the online losses. The Dutch lottery and land-based gambling (casinos and betting) sector expanded by 4.6%, aiding in stabilising the total market at €4.3bn. 

Looking to the future, the KSA’s regulatory focus stays firmly on player protection. “The focus point for 2025 was better player protection,” the authority declared, observing that gambling harm goes beyond financial loss to affect mental health, relationships, and social wellbeing.

As the market adapts, the KSA will uphold this mandate while waiting for the government’s next legislative stage.

A new Gambling Act is projected to be drafted in late 2025, with consultation in 2026, as policymakers mull stricter than advertising bans, higher age limits, and more rigorous enforcement. Instead of an immediate repeal, the KOA regime is poised to be reshaped via incremental reforms, pointing to a more restrictive future for the Dutch gambling market