In 2024, the regulated Dutch gambling market’s gross gambling revenue (GGR) remained unchanged from the previous year, holding steady at €4.3 billion ($5.0 billion), as reported by Kansspelautoriteit (KSA). This consistency was observed despite a notable downturn in the land-based casino sector. Both online and physical gambling formats contributed to this figure, encompassing casinos, sports betting, and lotteries.
The land-based casino segment, which has been declining since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, saw its revenue decrease by 5.5% to €1.30 billion. Although the segment’s financial performance faltered, it still accounted for a significant 30% of the overall market. The decrease in revenues was particularly pronounced in physical slot machines, which experienced a 5.4% drop to €654.4 million. However, Holland Casino’s venues bucked this trend slightly, with slot machine revenue increasing marginally by 0.5% to €396.1 million. Contrarily, table games struggled, their revenue slipping 9.3% to €247.6 million.
The KSA also highlighted a reduction in the number of player positions across most land-based venues, adding to the industry’s challenges. Player positions for arcade machines plummeted by 15% to 20,997. Holland Casino’s player positions saw a slight decline of 0.3% to 6,233. Interestingly, the number of machines in “catering” venues rose significantly by 17.35% to 7,992, indicating a shift in consumer preferences or strategy by operators to capitalize on alternative settings.
Lotteries emerged as the leading revenue source in 2024, generating €1.5 billion, marking a 3% rise from the previous year. This performance represented 34% of the total gambling revenue, with lottery turnover also increasing by 4.2% to €2.43 billion. The sustained popularity of lotteries could be attributed to their widespread appeal and the relatively stable nature of this gambling segment.
On the online front, the KSA observed a slight decline in revenue from online casinos, down 1.1% for the year. While specifics were not detailed, the online casino sector still contributed 26% of the total market revenue. In contrast, sports betting experienced robust growth, with online sports betting revenue surging by 17.7% to €352.6 million and land-based sports betting climbing 27.4% to €77.1 million.
Despite these gains in sports betting, horse racing maintained a modest presence, generating €3.9 million in online revenue, whereas the remaining income was distributed across various sports, contributing an additional €1.6 million online.
Player losses in land-based gambling continued to outweigh those in the online segment. On average, gamblers lost €197 in land-based facilities, a slight decrease from €198 in 2023, whereas online players saw their losses increase from €99 to €101. This data suggests that despite the challenges faced, land-based gambling remains a potent draw for players, perhaps offering an experience or social aspect that online platforms are yet to fully replicate.
Regarding taxation, the total tax collected from the gambling sector in 2024 reached €1.03 billion. Even amidst declining revenues, land-based casinos generated substantial tax income, contributing €396.1 million, marginally below the previous year. Online casinos followed closely with a €342 million tax contribution, reflecting a growth of 2.2%, while lotteries added €156.3 million. Internet sports betting accounted for €107.5 million, with land-based betting contributing another €23.4 million.
Currently, gambling tax policy is a topic of fervent discussion in the Netherlands, particularly with a pending tax hike scheduled for January 2026, which will see the rate rise to 37.8% of gross gaming revenue. This change follows a recent increase to 34.2% that took effect in January 2025.
Analysts suggest that the consistency in GGR, despite the struggles of land-based casinos, points to a resilient market adjusting to post-pandemic consumer behavior. “It’s a transitional phase,” they reckon, noting how the sector is seeking stability amid shifting dynamics. Conversely, some industry insiders caution that ongoing pressure on land-based venues could foreseeably lead to more consolidations or closures.
Looking ahead, the Dutch gambling market stands at a crossroads as it balances fiscal policies, evolving consumer preferences, and technological advancements. While online platforms and lotteries show promise, the fate of land-based casinos remains uncertain, posing both challenges and opportunities for stakeholders in the industry.
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