Companies in Netherlands Express Their Interest for Online Gambling Licence

In the Netherlands, a total of 125 companies have told the country’s gambling regulator that they are interested to obtain the online gambling licence, once it becomes legal in 2021. Two-thirds of the requests come from outside the Netherlands and include big names such as Bwin, Unibet and Pokerstars.

Earlier this year, the Senate voted to open up the market to other companies. Holland Casino is the only state-regulated gambling establishment in the Netherlands.

The new law is restrictive and contains a number of elements to try to combat addiction. Players have to register and state their limit and will be periodically reminded of the risk of addiction on screen.

The gambling firms will also have to appoint an addiction expert and pay gambling taxes of 29%, which is one of the highest in Europe.

“It is going to be expensive. You have to pay for the licence, tax and a percentage of your earnings must go into a fund to combat addiction,” Lawyer Justin Franssen, on behalf of some of the applicants said.