Netherlands Gambling Licence (KSA): What the Remote Gambling Act Demands

The Netherlands opened its online gambling market in October 2021 under the Remote Gambling Act (KOA), and the Dutch regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has since built a reputation as one of Europe’s most active enforcers. The market is attractive, but licensing is thorough and the rules keep tightening. Here is what to expect.

Eligibility and the reliability test

Licences are available to companies established in the EU or EEA, or in another state with equivalent supervision, that can demonstrate reliability, expertise and financial soundness. The KSA examines the applicant’s history closely: operators that actively targeted Dutch players before regulation faced a cooling-off period before they could be licensed, and past enforcement history remains a relevant factor in the reliability assessment.

Core compliance infrastructure

Licensees must connect to CRUKS, the national self-exclusion register, and check every player against it at login. They must integrate with the KSA’s control database (CDB) for near-real-time reporting of gambling data, verify identity and age before play, and offer mandatory deposit and time limits. The Netherlands has since added cross-operator deposit-limit rules and stricter checks for younger adults. Games and systems must be certified by an accredited inspection body.

Advertising restrictions

The Dutch approach to advertising has become one of the most restrictive in Europe. Untargeted advertising, including television, radio, outdoor and print, has been banned, and remaining online advertising must be targeted and must exclude young adults. Sponsorship of sports has been phased out. Any marketing strategy for the Netherlands must be built around these constraints rather than adapted from another market.

Taxation and costs

Gaming tax is charged on GGR at a rate that has been increased in recent budgets, alongside contributions to the addiction prevention fund and KSA supervision fees. Application fees are substantial and non-refundable, and the depth of the application means professional fees are a significant part of the budget.

Enforcement climate

The KSA regularly publishes fines against both licensed and unlicensed operators, covering advertising breaches, duty-of-care failures and unlicensed supply. Licensees should expect active supervision, information requests and audits. The Netherlands rewards operators with mature compliance functions and punishes those that treat the licence as a formality.

If you are preparing a Dutch application, our compliance and AML practice can help design the duty-of-care and monitoring framework the KSA expects to see.