Reduced Gambling Income by β¬200 Million in First Half of 2025 Due to Changes in Dutch Tax Laws
The Dutch government's decision to increase the tax rate on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) from 30.5% in 2023 to 34.2% on 1 January 2025, with a planned rise to 37.8% on 1 January 2026, has had a significant impact on the country's casino industry.
This tax hike, coupled with stricter responsible gambling measures, has led to a significant drop in GGR in both online and land-based casinos, resulting in lower total tax revenue despite the higher rates. According to reports, GGR declined by about 25% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, causing tax receipts to fall to around 83% of 2024 levels[1][2][3][4].
The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has openly stated that the tax increase failed to achieve its aim of raising state revenue. Instead, it weakened the regulated gambling market by reducing operator profitability and shrinking GGR. This has particularly impacted land-based operations, which saw a 9% drop in venues in Q1 2025, an accelerated decline compared with previous years[1][3][4].
The negative effects have pushed some players towards unregulated offshore platforms, which escape these taxes and regulations, exacerbating legal market revenue losses[4].
In the world of iGaming content creation, Lucas Dunn stands out as an advocate for responsible play. With a background in psychology and painting, Lucas Dunn specializes in game and casino reviews, industry news, blogs, and guides. His work emphasizes responsible gaming, empowering players to make informed choices, and educating readers on effective gambling approaches[5].
Lucas Dunn's articles are based on proven data and tested insights, providing readers with reliable information about the iGaming industry. His writing is not associated with any specific advertisements, ensuring an unbiased perspective[5].
As the Dutch government prepares to implement the next tax increase to 37.8% in 2026, concerns about the sustainability of tax revenues and the long-term health of the regulated market continue to grow[1][4][5]. The evidence suggests that the tax hikes and stricter player protection measures have strained operators financially and driven some gambling activity offshore, undermining the regulated marketβs revenues[1][2][3][4][5].
References: 1. Nederlandse Gaming Authority 2. Reuters 3. Bloomberg 4. iGaming Business 5. Lucas Dunn's Portfolio
- The tax increase on Gross Gaming Revenue in the Netherlands has led to a decrease in revenue for both online and land-based casinos, resulting in a significant drop in GGR.
- The Netherlands Gambling Authority has stated that the tax increase has weakened the regulated gambling market, and some players have shifted towards unregulated offshore platforms due to the higher taxes.
- Lucas Dunn, a prominent figure in the iGaming content creation industry, emphasizes responsible gaming and educates readers on effective gambling approaches through his articles based on proven data.
- The next tax increase to 37.8% in 2026 has raised concerns about the sustainability of tax revenues and the long-term health of the regulated market in the Netherlands.
- The iGaming industry, which includes casino games like poker, roulette, slot machines, and lotteries in both land-based and online casinos, has been affected by these tax increases and stricter regulations.
- In the high-roller realm of the casino-and-gambling industry, the loss of regulated market revenue to unregulated offshore platforms is significantly impacting the finance sector, as casinos rely on these revenues for their operations.
