Dutch Online Gambling Market Shows Steady Growth Amid Regulatory Changes

Since the regulated online gambling market opened in the Netherlands, the sector has experienced steady growth, positioning the country as a key player in the European iGaming landscape. Recent data from the Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) reinforces this trend and provides deeper insights into market performance throughout 2023.

Market Growth and Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR)

• The online gambling market generated a gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €1.39 billion in 2023, up from €1.08 billion in 2022 — an increase of over €300 million.

• Although growth rates in 2023 have moderated compared to 2022, every quarter showed year-over-year revenue increases.

• Quarterly GGR breakdown for 2023 vs 2022:

  • Q1: €331m vs €239m

  • Q2: €361m vs €245m

  • Q3: €347m vs €271m

  • Q4: €349m vs €330m

Market Segments and Player Preferences

• Casino games against the house dominate, accounting for 77% of the market share in 2023.

• Sports betting holds second place but with fluctuating revenues linked to sports event calendars.

• Games where players compete against each other (e.g., bingo, poker) maintained a steady 2.6% market share.

• The least popular activity is horse racing betting, making up just 0.4% of the market.

Player Base and Consumer Protection

• The number of registered player accounts increased to 1.1 million in 2023, from 970,000 in 2022.

• The KSA estimates that about 5% of the adult Dutch population gambled in the last six months of 2023.

• The Central Register for the Exclusion of Gambling (Cruks), launched in 2021, saw registrations grow to over 63,500 by January 2024.

• Cruks enables voluntary and involuntary exclusion, helping protect consumers from gambling-related harm.

Regulatory Landscape and Market Impact

• Total gross gaming revenue from all legal gambling (online and land-based) increased from €2 billion in 2021 to €3.4 billion in 2022.

• The rise was fueled both by online gambling growth and the reopening of land-based venues after COVID-19 restrictions.

• The Netherlands implemented a stringent gambling advertising ban in 2023, targeting non-targeted online ads.

• New legislation passed in early 2024 aims to further restrict online gambling advertising, reflecting the country’s cautious regulatory approach.

Outlook

Despite regulatory tightening, the Dutch online gambling market continues to grow steadily, driven by player engagement with casino games and effective consumer protection measures like Cruks. The sector’s maturation indicates a balanced focus on expansion and responsible gambling.