Is online gambling legal in the Netherlands? The rules explained in English

Moved to the Netherlands and wondering whether you can still play online? The rules here differ from those in the UK, Ireland or most other countries. A site you used back home may be perfectly legal there and still be off-limits here. This guide explains Dutch law in plain English, what it means for you as a resident, and how to check things yourself on official sources.

What does Dutch law say about online gambling?

Online gambling in the Netherlands is governed by the Betting and Gaming Act (Wet op de kansspelen). The part that covers online play is known as the Remote Gambling Act, or Wet Kansspelen op afstand (Koa). It took effect on 1 October 2021. Before that date, no operator was allowed to offer online casino games to people in the Netherlands.

The Koa created a licensing system. An operator can only offer online games of chance to Dutch residents if it holds a remote gambling licence from the Ksa. Where the company is based does not matter. What matters is whether it has a Dutch licence.

The law is aimed at operators, not at you. It requires them to verify players, protect vulnerable people and follow strict advertising rules. As a player, your main job is simple: make sure the site you use is on the Ksa's list.

Who is the Ksa and what does it do?

The Kansspelautoriteit is the independent regulator for gambling in the European part of the Netherlands. In English it calls itself the Netherlands Gambling Authority. It grants licences, supervises licensed operators and takes action against illegal ones, including fines.

A licence is not a formality. Operators have to show they are reliable, have a policy to prevent gambling addiction and store game data in a control database the Ksa can access. Licences are granted for five years. The first ones from 2021 expired at the end of September 2026, and on 17 September 2026 the Ksa granted the first eight follow-up licences.

How do I check whether a casino is legal in the Netherlands?

The only reliable test for a legal casino in the Netherlands is the Ksa's public register. A logo, seal or "licensed" claim on a website proves nothing. Here is how to check:

1. Open the Ksa register
   Go to kansspelautoriteit.nl and look for the register of licensees. The Ksa has an English page called "Register of licensees" that links to the search tool, the Kansspelwijzer.
2. Search by name, website or licence number
   The tool lets you search by company name, website, app or licence number. The search tool itself is in Dutch, but a name or web address is all you need.
3. Match the exact web address
   Check that the site you are on is the one listed. Copycat domains exist, so compare the address carefully.
4. Check again later
   Licences can be withdrawn or expire. If you have played somewhere for a while, look it up again now and then.

Want a broader introduction to how licensed sites work for residents? Read our guide to online casinos in the Netherlands.

Can I play at UK, Malta or Curaçao casinos from the Netherlands?

No. A licence from the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao does not count here. Each country decides who may offer gambling to its own residents. In the Netherlands, only a Ksa licence gives that right.

So if a site has no Dutch licence and still accepts you while you live here, it is making an illegal offer. That is true even if the same company is fully legal in Britain. Some international companies do hold a Dutch licence, but then you play on their separate Dutch site, with Dutch rules.

A common situation for expats: you open an old account from your home country while living in the Netherlands. If that site is not in the Ksa register, it should not be serving you here, and none of the Dutch protections apply.

What are the risks of unlicensed sites?

• No Dutch complaints route. The Ksa does not supervise these sites and will not mediate if something goes wrong.
• No guaranteed payout. No Dutch rule forces an unlicensed site to pay your winnings. Accounts can be blocked or payouts delayed on the basis of terms you cannot check.
• No Cruks check and no mandatory limits. The safeguards described below simply do not exist there.
• You may owe tax yourself. See the tax section below.
• Payment problems. The Ksa also acts against payment providers that facilitate illegal gambling, so a payment method can suddenly stop working.

Background in Dutch: online casino's in het buitenland (in Dutch).

What do you need to play legally as a resident?

A legal casino in the Netherlands must know who you are before you play. Anonymous play is not possible. In practice you will need:

Licensed sites are aimed at the Dutch market, so the default language is Dutch. Many offer an English version of the site or support, but this varies per operator. Check before you sign up if language matters to you.

iDEAL is the most used deposit method. Withdrawals cannot go back through iDEAL itself; they arrive by SEPA bank transfer. More on that in our guides to iDEAL at Dutch casinos and payout times.

Why does the age limit matter beyond 18?

The legal minimum age is 18. But Dutch rules treat young adults aged 18 to 23 as a group that needs extra protection. Gambling advertising may not be aimed at anyone under 24, and lower thresholds apply to young adults for deposits (see the next section).

This is why Dutch gambling ads look restrained compared with some other countries. You will not see licensed operators using sports stars or influencers to target young people. Every licensed ad must also carry a mandatory slogan, in Dutch.

What are the mandatory limits and the affordability check?

At a licensed site you set limits before you play, including a deposit limit, a playing time limit and a maximum balance. The site cannot let you skip this step.

Since 1 October 2024, Ksa policy rules add a financial safety net. "Net deposits" means deposits minus withdrawals, per month:

The affordability check is based on your structural income. Since July 2026, savings no longer count towards it. If you have just moved here and your Dutch income history is short, expect to be asked for documents when you go over these thresholds.

These figures are limits per operator. The government has proposed a single limit across all sites, but that is not law yet.

What is Cruks and does it apply to expats?

Cruks (Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen) is the national gambling exclusion register, managed by the Ksa. If you are registered, you cannot play at any Dutch licensed gambling site, arcade or casino. Every licensed operator must check Cruks before you play.

The check applies to everyone who plays at a Dutch licensed site, whatever your nationality. If you sign up as a resident, you are checked like anyone else.

How do you register?

• With DigiD: register online at cruksregister.nl. Your gambling stop starts immediately.
• Without DigiD: the Ksa offers a paper form. You print it, fill it in and send it by post. The stop starts a few days after the form is processed, and you receive confirmation at your address.
• Without a BSN: according to the Ksa, Cruks then records your name, date of birth and place of birth to create your Cruks code.

The minimum period is 6 months. You cannot end it earlier. After 6 months you can end it yourself, otherwise it runs until the end of the period you chose. If you hold more than one nationality, the Cruks registration process asks you to list them, so you cannot play using another passport.

Worried about someone else? Family members and others can ask the Ksa to register a person involuntarily. Full details: Cruks (in Dutch).

Do you pay gambling tax in the Netherlands?

At a licensed casino, no. Gambling tax (kansspelbelasting) in the Netherlands is 37.8% in 2026. At a Ksa-licensed site the operator pays it on its gross gaming revenue. You pay nothing and have nothing to declare.

At a site without a Dutch licence, the casino tax becomes your problem. You must file a gambling tax return yourself per month, on your monthly result: prizes received minus stakes. A worked example:

The rate has risen steadily: 29% at first, then 29.5% (2023), 30.5% (2024), 34.2% (2025) and 37.8% from 1 January 2026. More in Dutch: kansspelbelasting (in Dutch).

Is online gambling in the Netherlands safe if a site is licensed?

A licence means supervision, not a guarantee that you will come out ahead. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time players as a group lose more than they win. Treat any money you spend as the cost of entertainment, never as a way to earn or to recover losses.

Before you start, decide how much money and time you want to spend. Set those limits at the site and keep to them. If you notice that you are chasing losses or playing more than you planned, stop and talk to someone. Open over gokken (0800-24 000 22) is the Ksa's free, anonymous help platform, available 24/7, and relatives can call too.

Comparing licensed operators? See how we approach that on our page about the best online casino in the Netherlands. We only cover operators in the Ksa register.

What is the government planning for Netherlands gambling?

On 12 June 2026, State Secretary Van Bruggen presented a package of proposals. These are plans, not law. They still have to be worked out in legislation. The main points:

• An almost complete ban on online gambling advertising.
• A ban on bonuses.
• One overarching deposit limit across all sites, with a financial affordability check.
• Improvements to Cruks, such as permanent voluntary exclusion and easier registration by relatives.
• Tougher action against illegal operators, including blocking sites and addressing payment providers.

Until any of this becomes law, the current rules described on this page apply.