The Dutch online gambling industry has warned that planned increases to the country’s gambling tax rate could ultimately reduce state revenue by €43.5m ($50.3m), while accelerating the growth of the illegal gambling market.
Regulation and taxation on the gambling industry in the Netherlands has been tightening rapidly over the past years and the 2025 tax plan set in motion a policy of gradual tax rises.
In 2025, gambling tax rose from 30.5% to 34.2%, and this year it is climbing to 37.8%.
The stated goal is to bring in more Government revenues, but thus far the hikes have been shown to have the opposite effect.
According to the trade association, Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders (VNLOK), the 2026 uptick could deepen that revenue decline trend to the tune of €43.5m.
The other concern is that higher taxes risk weakening the regulated market and making licensed operators less competitive compared with unlicensed offshore platforms.
VNLOK Chairman, Bjorn Fuchs, has said: “The Government is trying to generate additional revenue with this measure, but is achieving the opposite.”
The organisation has built its argument against the rises around three ideas: that tax revenues are falling as a result of changes, the illegal supply of iGaming platforms has grown to be bigger than the legal market and there has been a decrease in the amount of money contributed to sports and charities.
These reasons are why VNLOK is calling on the House of Representatives to evaluate the effects of gambling tax, reconsider the tax rate and build the findings into future policy ideas.
VNLOK's warning and call to the House of Representatives has been made in conjunction with fellow trade association, VAN, the Dutch Lottery and Holland Casino
