Dutch Government to review gambling policy and Holland Casino ownership | Yogonet International

The Dutch government is evaluating potential changes to its gambling policy, including increased competition in the land-based market, the state’s role in owning Holland Casino, and distinctions between online and land-based gambling, State Secretary for Justice and Security Frank Struycken said.  
 
Currently, Holland Casino operates as a state-owned monopoly in the land-based gambling sector, prompting concerns from lawmakers like MP Michiel van Nispen. He questioned whether the market should be opened to additional licensed operators.

“By March 2025, I will send my vision on the future development and objectives of gambling policy,” Struycken said, noting that the current framework, established in 2011, is under review.  
  
Van Nispen also challenged the state’s ownership of Holland Casino. A 2023 evaluation found state control “not necessary,” but Struycken highlighted potential trade-offs, such as lost revenue and diminished capacity to address gambling-related harm. “The added value of shareholding is not weighty enough that further exploration of other future options would be ruled out in advance,” Struycken explained.  

While he did not rule out privatization, Struycken stressed the need to carefully weigh the implications.  
 
A proposed gambling tax hike could significantly impact the sector, a report warned. The increase might force Holland Casino to shutter branches or discontinue its online operations, raising alarm over potential job losses and reduced services.  

Struycken stated that the Ministry of Taxation would provide an update on Holland Casino’s future before the summer of 2025.  
  
Van Nispen also pressed for greater clarity in distinguishing between online and land-based gambling in new policy measures. Struycken agreed, emphasizing that the risks, including addiction, vary by format and require tailored approaches. “An important aspect in this is the risk of addiction or other gambling-related harm that emanates from certain types of games of chance,” he noted.  
 
Struycken is preparing a comprehensive vision for gambling policy reforms, set to be debated in parliament on March 27, 2025. Revisions to the online gambling framework will be prioritized. “I will return in the letter that I will send to the house for debate on 27 March on the way in which I view the policy and where I see reason for changes. Adjustments relating to the online gambling market have my priority,” he said.