In this guide, we discuss t🐈he legal situation surrounding Netherlands betting sites, and what you should consider while betting on spor♊ts online in the country.
- 1 Betting in the Netherlands – T🃏he Current Situation
- 2 Gambling Regulations in the N🌠etherlands for Gamblers
- 3 Gambling Regulations in the Ne🥂therlands for Betting Sitꦿes
- 4 ﷽How To Choose the Best Betting Sites in t𒁃he Netherlands
- 5 What a Bookmaker ൲Needs to Operate in the Netherlands
- 6 Which Sports Are Popular in the Netherlands?
- 7 Popular Payment Method♛s available for Netherlands Bett𒅌ors
- 8 How To Deposit at Dutch Betting Sites
- 9 Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag To Learn More
- 10 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 11 Sources
- 12 Best Netherlands Betting Sites FAQs
Betting in the Netherlands – The Current Situation
Attention!
Gambling in The Netherlands is 18+. Bonuses are only eligibleꦅ for players 24+.
The (KOA) came into force on 1st April 2021 and brought about big changes for the better, as far as gamblers are concerned.
The most important takeaway from the whole document i﷽s that, on 1st October 2021, new licences became available for both international and Dutch betting sites. At the time of writing, there are now 24 operators who ho🍌ld Dutch licences, and are safe to bet with.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in the Netherlands?
Yes, as long as you are betting with one of the online licensed bookmakers recognised by the Netherlands Gaming Control Board, then it’s perfectly legal.
Once you ensure that your🍎 chosen bookmaker hold all the necessary credentials, you can go ahead and sign up with total peace of mind.
How Betting in The Netherlands Became Legal
Up until 2021, the sports betting monopoly in the Netherlands was run by De Lotto and Scientific Games Racing B.V. It was in fact illegal for any offshore operator to offer any form of online gambling in the country, since a singl♑e licence hadn’t yet been given out.
Despite this, the Dutch government had failed to control the illegal market, and hundreds of operators abroad were still offering thei𓄧r services to Dutch users.
Fast forward to t✃oday, and bookies are now being regulated by the Netherlands Gambling Authority, who impose s🐼trict regulations on licensed operators.
INFO
It's important that you use a licensed site when betting in the Netherlands. Once you do so, you can benefit from all the great free bet bonuse💫𒀰s and betting promotions available.
The Future of Regulated Gambling in the Netherlands
With the Remote Gambling Act introduced in 2021, a lot has changed for many gambling websites. Online gambling is now officially and formally legalised, and big international brands like bet365, for instance, can now reach and serve Dutch players freely, as long as they have a K🍌SA licence.
However, the strict regulations have led to the exodus of every betting exchange which was available in the Netherlands. So far, there are no sites offering the product, but this could chꦑange in the future.
Moreover, in 2023, as part of the Kansspelautoriteit 2020 -2024 Strategy, as of 1 July 2023, operators have been banned from using most forms of ads. They can only use targeted adverts to customers over 24, and will have to provide evidence oꦆf this too. The age limit also a෴pplies to welcome offers and all other types of promotions.
Gambling Regulations in the Netherlands for Gamblers
As an indepedent gambling regulator in the Netherlands, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) have made efforts to enꦇ♓sure that Dutch punters are kept safe when gambling.
KSA License
It’s important to on𒐪ly use a gambling site licensed by KSA. Otherwise, you are at risk of gambling illegally. The 🎉best way to know that the bookie you are using is licensed is by locating this seal of approval. If it isn't shown either at the top or bottom of the front page, you are likely accessing an illegal site.
Age Limits
The legal age for gambling in the Netherlands is 18, with no exceptions allowed. To register with an account at an online betting site, you mu💯st prove your age and identity with the correct documents. In order to claim a welcome bonus, you must be over the age of 24.
Responsible Gambling
To help you gamble responsibly, KSA has launched a new website for their self exclusion platform, . Each betting site is required to check the list of people registered for self exclusion on Cruks before accepting a new customer. If you feel like you need a ‘reflection period’ at any time to take a break from gambling or stop betting entirely, you have the option to stop gambling for 6 months up to 99 years.
Gambling Regulations in the Netherlands for Betting Sites
KSA Licensing
Operators must obtain a licence with The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) to be eligible to operatཧe legally in the country.
Responsible Gambling
It is the bookmaker’s responsibility to ensure players are gambling responsibly and have available tools to monitor their betting behaviour. The Netherlands have gone to great lengths to promote responsible gambling and make every effort to minimise frequent betting among younger punters (those who fall between the age range of 18-24). In fact, KSA’s 2020 – 2024 strategy has introduced a few updates as of 1 July 2023:
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Operators cannot us♚e un𒁃targeted campaigns to advertise to punters.
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They can onlyꦚ advertise to customers over 24, and they cannot target vulnerable people either.
How To Choose the Best Betting Sites in the Netherlands
With all the options available, choosing which onli𝓀ne betting site to open an account with might be overwhelming for some. To help you out with this, we’ve listed some advice for you to keep in mind:
1. Safety
When it comes to safety, you can never be too careful! While it’s always vital to register with an operator you can trust, this is especially important in the Netherlan𒈔ds. Since the Remote Gambling Act already puts operators under scrutiny, though, Dutch punters won't find it hard to find a licensed bookmaker.
2. Payments
Many of the best Dutch betting sites accept various forms of payment including credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfe൩rs. The use of iDEAL is th🌳e best feature on most sites, allowing you to deposit and withdraw from any bank account.
Find an online betting site which allows Dutch customers to place bets in euros to avoid paying hefty exchange rates.
3. Odds
You won’t get good value on your bets if your sportsbook isn’t offering you good prices. Use our odds overround calculator to find out a bet's profit💦 margin and deౠtermine whether you’re getting your money’s worth.
4. Promotions
It is customary for the best betting sites to offer new customers a welcome bonus or a sign-up offer. Thiꦺs normally comes in the form of free bet credits, risk-free bets, or other similar promotions.
We don’t recommend using bonuses if you are below the ൩age of 24.
5. Sports
As is the case with𒁃 every bookmaker in the world, the more sports ofﷺfered, the better. A bookie with a wide range is generally more reliable, and the added sports give you the chance to bet on new markets.
All our bookies provid♒e an excellent range of sports, but some sites spꦏecialise in a particular few.
However, unless you’re planning on using a VPN, some products are unavailable in the country. Chief amongst these are betting exchanges, which are legal but are not offered by any licensed bookies at the tiꦡme of writing.
6. Apps
While many Netherlands betting sites can boast some form of mobile platform, Circus.nl stands out with a brilliant aꦯpp available for both Apple and Android.
The app is a great extension of the site and features much of the same sports, markets and odds, making it grea🌳t for punters who are no strangers to a bit of travelling or to anyone who may prefer their phone over a computer to make bets.
What a Bookmaker Needs to Operate in the Netherlands
It is now mandatory for bettors to set maximum credit limits on their online sports betting accounts, while operators are expected to have a responsible gambling strategy in place.
꧅ Ads can only target punters over the 💞age of 24.
Ads cannot target vulnerable groups.
A minimum of 9𒊎5% of advertising reaches people 24+.
Customer service agents must be able to communicat🅠e in Dutꦰch.
Dutch players’ identity must be verified before registration can be finalised.
Which Sports Are Popular in the Netherlands?
Steeped in sporting history, many sporting legends have hailed from Dutch soil. Johann Cruyff in football, 𓄧Fanny Blankers-Koen in athletics, and Michael van Gerwen in darts are j♋ust a few in the long list of greats. But which sports are the most popular for betting on?
Football
Football is the most popular sport🎃 in the Netherlands, which is unsurprising given the countless players that have mesmerised in the trademark orange national team shirt.
The Eredivisie is the top league in🍒 the country, featuring storied clubs such as Ajax, Feyen༒oord, and PSV.
Of course, the English Premier League is the most followed🌺 league worldwide, and is therefore home to loads of popular betting markets.
Another very popular competition is the UEFA Champions League, which features many big matches throughout the season. From the 2024/25 season onwards, the Dutch Eredivisie champions and runners-up will automatically qualify to the Champions League. The third placed team will have ꧒to go through the qualification stages.
Hockey
Hockey is another popular sport, with the Netherlands having proudly organised the 2014 Hockey World Cup in the Hague – a🍌 cup the Dutch team has won ওthree times.
The success of both the women's and men's teams on the world stage has led to an exponential growth of the 🐻sport in the Nethꩵerlands. This is especially true for the women’s game, as they have won the last three Hockey World Cups in a row, bringing their all-time total to nine.
Darts
Darts is a brilliant spectator sport as it offers a unique ‘pub-like’ atmosphere. Many events take place in the Netherlands, including the Dutch Masters and one leg of the Darts Premier League.
The Dutch can boast quite a few great darts players, with by far the best two being Michael Van Gerwin and Raymond van Barneveld. The latter have won multiple Darts World Cups and Darts World Championships, as well as many other majo🐷r competitions in the sport.
Other sports th🍸e Dutch are enthusiastic about are volleybalဣl, cycling, horse racing, tennis, golf, MMA, UFC, and gymnastics.
Popular Payment Methods available for Netherlands Bettors
In an attempt to control the market, the Dutch government has tried to block transactions with online bookmakers in the past. However, the online gambling market, banks and payment service providers weren’t having it. With the government’s efforts having proven unsuccessful, there are a number of payment▨ options available to choose from.
Credit/Debit Cards
The traditional payment methods for many punters are credit and debit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard, which are trusted worldwide. They’re reliable with high payment limits, but their processi𒅌ng times may be slower compared to e-wallets.
iDEAL
This Dutch-based secure payment provider is supremely popular amongst punters and is supported at every Netherlands betting site. Depositing is instant without any processing fees and is arguably the most secure way to go. All you need to do is select it during check out, choose your bank, and follow the instructions as you normally would. In a way, it also serves as an encryption service for your bank 🙈transfers.
Bank Transfer
With so many restrictions, bank 𓂃transfers could be the most hassle-free of the lot. When withdrawing winnings, bookmakers🔴 can only send funds through bank transfers.
Skrill, NETELLER, and Cryptocurrencies
If you’re planning on using e-wallets, as well as cryptocurr༒encies, you’ll need to use iDEAL as the payment provider. All you need to do is choose Skrill, NETELLER or your crypto banks as a𒊎n option.
How To Deposit at Dutch Betting Sites
The depositing process may differ slightly depending on the bookmaker, but the ge💞neral outline is alwa💫ys the same:
First you must regi✃ster a new account – this can typically be fou🌟nd on the top right of the page.
Enter the ‘My Account’ secti♕on of the site to view your settings and various options.
You will find the options to deposit and withdraw dꦛisplayed here – select deposit.
Choose your preferre𝓀d payment method and the amount of funds you would like to tran🔯sfer.
Once that’s done, confirm your transaction, and your money should be deposited instantly into yo𝔍ur account.
Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag To Learn More
Planning on taking a holiday, or relocating for good to one of these 🐠countries? These articles will keep you up to date on all you need to know about betting in a specific location.
Looking for a general overview of betting abroad? Check out our extensive international betting guide.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Whether you’re betting while on holiday or you’ve made the Netherlands your home, it’s always important to know the legality surrounding online betting.
With a clear legal framework now in place, the Dutch market continues to open up, with locals now able to enjoy diverse betting options. Dutch punters can also look forward to a range of sports and event♒s to wager on, along with a vibrant and exciting betting landscape online. So, place your bets wisely, and may good luck be on yo💟ur side!
Sources
Coefficient success: Netherlands Secure Second Direct Champions League ticket (2023) Football Oranje. Available at: //www.football-oranje.com/coefficient-🅠success-netherlands-secure-second-direct-champions-♛league-ticket/#:~:text=That%20means%20two%20sides%20from,huge%20boost%20for%20the%20Eredivisie.
Best Netherlands Betting Sites FAQs
Yes, it is. The 🧸Netherlands Gambling Authority doesn’t restrict any online gaming, meaning that a player engaging in the activity cannot be prosecuted. Dutch bettors don’t need to worry about this.
Since the recent Remote Gambling Act, both the online sports betting market as well as the online casino market have become legal. Licensed bookmakers can now offer betting odds, and bettors can place legal sports bets in a safe and regulated markeꦛt.
The majority of sports bets in the Netherlands are placed on foo𒁃tball. The Dutch 🌟are also into hockey and horse racing in particular.
If it’s sports betting you are after, we highly recommend bet365, wi𒅌th their renowned sportsbook second to none within the industry.