Posted in Industry August 5, 2017
The Netherlands Remote Gaming Bill: What to Expect from Dutch Gambling in 2018
The Netherlands has been waiting for the passing of the Remote Gambling Bill since June 2016, but it has yet to be approved by the Senate. The bill is expected to become active no sooner than summer 2018, with the Dutch online gambling market potentially opening in July of that year. However, there are no guarantees, as the main obstacle is determining the right way to advertise online gambling operators in the Netherlands. The Dutch Gaming Authority has recently implemented strict rules on this matter, leading many online gambling operators to leave the country. The expected tax rate for iGaming businesses in the Netherlands is currently 29%, which is deemed too high for international businesses. Despite these challenges, if the bill does pass, there will likely be a few businesses applying for a license to enter the Dutch gambling market. The hope is that the industry will experience much-needed growth once these obstacles are addressed. In the meantime, the Netherlands Gaming Authority has already made changes to its regulations, causing two major operators to exit the market. The new rules prohibit the use of affiliate websites with .nl domain and the use of Dutch symbols in ads. Operators that violate these rules will face severe punishment. The unexpected regulatory changes have left international gambling operators with little time to adjust, and there is a risk of a mass exodus from the Netherlands. However, the Gaming Innovation Group has announced its interest in re-entering the market once the new regulations are in effect.
