KSA Renews Licences for Eight Dutch Online Operators

Eight online gambling providers have secured follow-up licences from the Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA), allowing them to continue offering services in the Netherlands through September 2031.

The licences were initially granted in 2021 following the introduction of the Netherlands’ regulated online gambling framework. Those first permits are due to expire in September 2026, meaning operators seeking to remain active in the market must obtain renewed authorisation.

The latest approvals represent the first batch of follow-up licences issued by the KSA. According to the regulator, all eight companies satisfied the conditions required for renewal.

Eight Operators Granted Five-Year Licences

The first group of operators receiving follow-up licences includes TOTO Online B.V., which operates TOTO and Winnitt, and Holland Casino N.V., the operator of Holland Casino Online.

Play North Limited, which operates Kansino, has also secured renewed authorisation. The group further includes FPO Nederland B.V., operator of FairPlay Casino, and Bingoal Nederland B.V., which operates Bingoal.

The remaining approvals were granted to Hillside (New Media Malta) Plc, operator of Bet365; NSUS Malta Limited, operator of GG Poker; and Betent B.V., operator of Betcity.

The renewed licences allow all eight companies to continue operating in the Dutch online gambling market once their original permits expire.

Each licence will run for five years, covering the period from October 2026 until September 2031.

KSA Examines Previous Compliance

As part of its assessment, the KSA reviewed several areas before deciding whether to grant the follow-up licences.

The operators’ compliance records from the previous five years formed an important part of the review. Applicants were required to explain what measures they had introduced to prevent previous types of violations from happening again.

The regulator assessed whether each applicant fulfilled the conditions for receiving a follow-up licence. Following the evaluation, the KSA determined that the eight operators qualified for renewed authorisation.

The process therefore considered previous compliance issues alongside the measures taken by operators to address identified breaches and prevent similar violations from recurring.

Dutch Regulator Maintains Broader Oversight

The KSA continues to oversee the wider gambling sector while processing new and renewed licences.

Holland Casino was recently subject to scrutiny after a self-excluded gambler was admitted to one of its land-based gambling venues.

The individual was a journalist who had been excluded from gambling and wanted to test whether the relevant controls were functioning. The journalist entered the venue using another employee’s driving licence.

Although staff checked the identification document, they did not detect the discrepancy and allowed the journalist to gamble.

The same journalist subsequently managed to gamble at Jack’s Casino in Utrecht and Casino Be One in Rotterdam. The incidents highlighted broader concerns regarding checks designed to prevent self-excluded individuals from gambling at land-based venues.

Following its examination of the situation, the KSA said it would take appropriate action.