Will the casino monopoly in Holland be abolished in 2025? A big step in sight

In the Netherlands, there is market freedom for online gambling, while land-based casinos are subject to a state monopoly. However, this could soon be over, as Teun Struycken, Minister for Legal Protection, recently stated that the government is working on updating the current regulations and plans to submit them to the House of Representatives in March 2025. Lifting the casino monopoly would be a big deal.

Germany and the Netherlands are similar in many ways - good cycling infrastructure, a love of chips with mayo and a strong bureaucracy are just a few examples of what they have in common. However, there is one issue where the two countries have taken completely different paths to date: brick-and-mortar casinos.

Online gambling is liberal in the Netherlands, but less so offline

• Dutch online market: The Dutch have managed to establish one of the most effective online gambling regulations in Europe. This is particularly evident in the channeling rate: according to current figures, at least 87 percent of legal online games of chance are used in Holland, perhaps even up to 95 percent. However, the gradual increase in gambling tax is a cause for concern for the local industry - heavy losses are expected here, which could also affect the state offer.
• Germany, on the other hand, is dreaming of such figures: Only recently, the German Online Casino Association estimated that the proportion of legally used slots in Germany is only between 20 and a maximum of 40 percent. In other words, the majority of players are migrating to unregulated offers - which is rather an indictment of "effective regulation".

Holland Casino: A monopoly on the brink

When it comes to offline gambling, the state in Holland has the upper hand. Only one company is allowed to operate brick-and-mortar casinos there - namely the state-run Holland Casino. Private providers? Not a chance.

But that could now change. Teun Struycken, who is responsible for legal matters and gambling policy, has announced a reform for this year:

"By March 2025, I will communicate my vision on the future development and objectives of gambling policy," said Struycken. "In it, I will also consider competition in the market."

In plain language: the monopoly could fall. And Struycken is not the only one thinking along these lines.

Others are also questioning whether the state should still be the owner of Holland Casino. They refer to an evaluation from 2024, which came to the conclusion that this is not actually necessary and could even be counterproductive.

A final decision has not yet been made, but one thing is certain: 2025 could be the year in which the Dutch gambling business undergoes major changes.

What is Holland Casino?

If you want to go to a casino in the Netherlands, you will inevitably end up with a name: Holland Casino. And that is no coincidence. Because the company is not just any casino operator - it is the only one in the Netherlands that is allowed to operate casinos at all. Holland Casino has held this monopoly for almost 50 years.

From Zandvoort to the whole country - and online

The story began on December 17, 1975, when the Dutch government awarded the first and only casino license to a foundation: the Nationale Stichting tot Exploitatie van Casinospelen - better known as Holland Casino. Less than a year later, on October 1, 1976, the first branch opened its doors in Zandvoort. What began as a single operation by the sea developed into a nationwide gambling empire over the years.

Today, Holland Casino operates 14 locations across the country - from Amsterdam to Venlo. And since October 4, 2021, Holland Casino Online has also been a digital platform offering classic RNG table games, slot machines and live dealer games.

Where can you find Holland Casino?

Holland Casino is now represented in almost every major city in the Netherlands. So if you fancy a game of roulette, blackjack or a round of poker, you will find a selection of casinos here:

• Amsterdam Centrum (Max Euweplein 62, 1117 MB Amsterdam)
• Amsterdam Sloterdijk (La Guardiaweg 61, 1043 DE Amsterdam)
• Breda (Kloosterplein 20, 4811 GP Breda)
• Eindhoven (Ten Hagestraat 6a, 5611 EG Eindhoven)
• Enschede (Koningsplein 8, 7512 KZ Enschede)
• Groningen (Roskildeweg 4, 9723 MA Groningen)
• Leeuwarden (Heliconweg 56, 8914 AT Leeuwarden)
• Nijmegen (Groene Balkon 1, 6511 VL Nijmegen)
• Rotterdam (Weena 624, 3012 CN Rotterdam)
• Scheveningen (Kurhausweg 1, 2587 RT Scheveningen)
• Utrecht (Winthontlaan 8, 3526 KV Utrecht)
• Valkenburg (Cauberg 28, 6301 BT Valkenburg)
• Venlo (Floralaan 7, 5928 RD Venlo)
• Zandvoort (Badhuisplein 7, 2042 JB Zandvoort)

More than just gambling - Holland Casino focuses on events

But Holland Casino is not just a place for classic games of chance such as roulette, blackjack or poker. There are regular events at many locations, including poker tournaments, themed evenings and exclusive dinner offers.

Game changers with challenges: Why opening up the market for private casino operators would be a big deal

Ok, the Netherlands could give up its casino monopoly and open up the market to private operators. But what would that mean? A look beyond the country's borders and into the economic books sheds light on this.

A look at Europe: What are the benefits of liberalization?

In many European countries, the gambling market has already been opened up to private operators. Experience shows both clear advantages and challenges:

✓ Advantages

• Economic upturn: The local economy benefits from investments by private operators. The licensing of corresponding casinos can also increase tax revenues. In Germany, the regulated gambling market generates annual gross gaming revenues of over 10 billion euros and tax revenues of more than 2 billion euros. We recently reported on a huge 38 percent drop in tax revenue from online slots. Is the black market perhaps stronger than officially thought?
• Job creation: New casinos mean new jobs - from croupiers to IT specialists.
• Tourism promotion: Attractive casinos attract tourists who not only want to gamble, but also stay in hotels and dine in restaurants. New and varied offers could attract international guests. This, in turn, can be very good for the local economy. Brazil is also hoping for a massive boost to tourism from brick-and-mortar casinos, although these must first be legalized there.
• Innovation boost: Competition promotes innovation. Private operators often bring new ideas, technologies and gaming concepts to the market.
• Infrastructure development: Investments in casinos often go hand in hand with improvements to the local infrastructure. This benefits the general public.

✕ Challenges

• Need for regulation: More providers require stricter monitoring to ensure player protection and addiction prevention, among other things.
• Market oversaturation: Too many casinos could oversaturate the market and lead to aggressive marketing. Corresponding power struggles would place great demands on the authorities at various levels.
• Illegal gambling: Despite regulation, combating illegal offers remains a problem. In Germany and other countries, legal and strictly regulated providers face strong illegal competition. In summer 2024, for example, we reported that a professional, unauthorized casino operation in North Rhine-Westphalia had been dismantled.

Financial prospects in the Netherlands

The Dutch gambling market holds considerable potential. With a channelization rate of at least 87 percent in the online segment, it is clear that well-regulated offers are very well received.

This trend is also likely to apply to brick-and-mortar casinos. Opening up the market could bring similar success and be quite attractive financially for both the state and private operators.

Political considerations: Balancing competition and responsibility

As Teun Struycken himself says, he is working on a strategy that promotes competition while minimizing undesirable financial incentives. The aim is to create a balanced market that takes both economic and social aspects into account.

Source of the image: Screenshot from https://corporate.hollandcasino.nl/

Central text sources: https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/dutch-new-gambling-policy-march-2025/, https://hc.nl/de/