Three Dutch gambling trade bodies have voiced their “great concern” over the confirmation of the rise in the Netherlands’ gambling tax rate.
As part of the latest Budget presented on Tuesday, the coalition government plans to increase the tax from 30.5 per cent in two stages – rather than a single jump.
Trade bodies NOGA, Van Kansspelen and VNLOK said that the rise to 34.2 per cent in 2025 ahead of the 2026 rise to 37.8 per cent “shows some recognition” of the risks of the tax changes on gambling policy objectives and the treasury.
However, they said the plan “does not allay the concerns about the continued existence of regulated gambling provision.”
The associations called for more fundamental and careful examination of the gambling tax alongside other policy changes, ongoing evaluations and previous parliamentary decisions.
“The members of NOGA, Van Kansspelen and VNLOK call on the government to align the financial objectives with the gambling policy, and to enter into discussions with the parties involved,” they said.
They said the tax increase will lead to “further erosion” of the regulated market and a decline in tax revenues, alongside a risk in illegal gambling.
“This is at the expense of the general policy objectives of the Dutch gambling policy, which are precisely aimed at consumer protection and the prevention of fraud, crime and gambling addiction,” the members said.
“If this is abandoned, social costs will increase and therefore mean additional financial setbacks.
“The social interest of the safe and regulated gambling offer on the one hand and the income for the state treasury on the other hand must be balanced.
“For these objectives, it is essential that a good exploitation of legal offer remains possible, and this is precisely what is seriously under pressure due to the proposed tax increase.”
The Dutch government has already confirmed its Regulation on Gaming Limits and Conscious Gambling Behaviour (Regeling sbs) will come into effect in October.
Among other things, it will mandate contact with players who set a deposit limit of €350 or higher; for young adults, a lower limit of €150 applies.
