CasinoNoDeposits Editorial
2025 Revenue Declines Amid Regulatory Changes
The Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit/KSA) has published its annual market scan and Monitoring Report, providing a comparative analysis of the gaming sector’s performance in 2025 and the first half of 2026. The data reveals a contracted market in 2025, with the licensed gambling sector reporting gross gaming revenue (GGR) of EUR 4.1 billion, down from EUR 4.5 billion in the prior year.
The decline was broad but uneven across segments. iGaming GGR fell by 18.2% to reach EUR 923.4 million in 2025. Online betting saw a sharper drop, decreasing by 30.2% to EUR 251.2 million. The KSA attributed these decreases partly to the implementation of new player protection measures, including a net deposit limit, which weighed on overall results alongside tax implications.
The land-based sector also experienced contraction, with overall GGR declining by 4.7% in 2025. Gaming machines located in arcades generated EUR 539 million, while those in hospitality venues produced EUR 104 million. In contrast, Holland Casino emerged as an outlier to the broader downward trend. As the sole operator permitted to run land-based casinos in the Netherlands, the state-owned entity reported a 2.8% increase in GGR for the year, reaching a total of EUR 683 million. The authority noted that this growth was driven by strong performance in slot gaming.
H1 2026 Shows Recovery and Account Growth
The first half of 2026 marked a reversal in the market’s trajectory. Online GGR rose to EUR 670 million, up from EUR 602 million in the second half of 2025. Casino gaming GGR for the same period stood at EUR 492 million. A significant driver of this recovery was the FIFA World Cup, which boosted online sports betting revenue to EUR 163 million in H1 2026. The KSA noted that sports betting’s share of the online market increased during this period due to the tournament.
Participation metrics also shifted. The number of online gambling accounts increased to 1.48 million in the first half of 2026. However, the KSA cautioned that this account count does not directly reflect the number of active players, as many individuals hold multiple accounts to circumvent deposit limits. To provide a more accurate picture of engagement, the authority estimates that 490,000 people gambled monthly during the period. The total number of individuals who engaged in gambling in H1 2026 was estimated at roughly 820,000.
Channelization and Player Safety Trends
The report also highlighted improvements in channelization, the measure of how much gambling activity occurs within the licensed market compared to illegal operators. In H1 2026, 94% of gamblers chose to play with legal operators. Furthermore, 59% of all money spent on online gambling was directed to legal companies, an increase from 54% in H2 2025.
Despite the market recovery, player safety data presents a complex picture. In 2025, the number of people undergoing gambling addiction treatment rose by 14% compared to 2024. Looking at risk profiles in H1 2026, the KSA observed that the number of people at high risk remained stable, while the number of those at moderate risk decreased and the number of low-risk individuals increased.
Why It Matters
The report quantifies the impact of recent Dutch regulatory changes on operator revenue, showing a significant 2025 contraction before a 2026 rebound. For operators and investors, the data clarifies how player protection measures like deposit limits affect GGR, while the World Cup demonstrates the volatility of sportsbook demand. The rising channelization rates indicate a growing shift toward the legal market, which is critical for long-term revenue stability in the jurisdiction.
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