Netherlands renews the first eight online gambling licences

The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, the KSA, has confirmed renewal of eight online gambling licences, closing the first five-year cycle since the regulated market opened in 2021. For PSPs and operators, the point is not the paperwork itself; it’s that the Dutch regime is now moving from “who got in” to “who can stay in.”

1. The renewed licences cover the period from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2031, allowing the operators to continue offering legal online gambling in the Netherlands. This is the first full renewal process under the Dutch licensing framework.
2. The first wave of renewed operators includes TOTO Online BV, with TOTO and Winnitt; Holland Casino NV, with Holland Casino Online; Play North Limited, responsible for Kansino; FPO Nederland BV, with FairPlay Casino; Bingoal Nederland BV; Hillside (New Media Malta) Plc, operator of Bet365; NSUS Malta Limited, linked to GG Poker; and Betent BV, with Betcity.
3. That list mixes local and international operators, all of which were already active in the market. So far, no new operator has managed to enter the regulated Dutch scheme. LiveScore and Tombola, two of the original ten licensees from 2021, had already stopped operating in the country in 2024.
4. The renewal round is also a test of the regulatory model introduced in 2021. After five years of operation, the KSA now has a broader record on operator behaviour, compliance practices, and the main challenges tied to the legal betting and online gaming market.
5. The current review is stricter than in 2021. Under rules announced in September 2025, operators with a history of non-compliance must explain in their application what they learned from those incidents and what measures they took to prevent them from happening again. An inadequate explanation can lead to refusal of the permit or additional restrictions.

The KSA is also adding new requirements, including exit plans and points for good practices, which pushes the renewal process beyond a basic licence check. For high-risk payment providers, that usually means one thing: licence continuity in the Netherlands is now tied more tightly to compliance history, not just market presence.