Online gambling operators in the Netherlands will incur higher costs when applying for a new licence or altering existing permits starting from April 1. The updated fee for a new permit will increase from €48,000 to €61,300, while that for altering an existing licence will rise from €8,000 to €10,200. The changes will enable the Dutch Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), to cover its operational expenses.
Dutch Gambling Regulator Increases Licensing Fee Starting from April 1: Quick Overview of the Story
- The cost for a new online gambling licence will increase from €48,000 to €61,300, while that for changes to existing permits will rise from €8,000 to €10,200 starting from April 1, 2026.
- Authorities state that the updated fees will enable the Dutch Gambling Authority to cover its operating expenses, with a majority of the budget being spent on staff salaries.
- Fees for non-incidental gambling will increase from €28,000 to €35,800, while those for large incidental games, with a prize pool exceeding €500,000, will rise from €24,000 to €30,600.
Licence Fee Hike to Cover Gambling Regulator’s Operational Expenses
Licensing fees for remote gaming operators in the Netherlands will increase from April 1, 2026. According to a government gazette published on Friday, January 23, the Ministry of Justice and Security has approved the new fee structure for existing and new licensees. The additional funds will be used to cover the regulator’s operational expenses.
The revised fee will take effect from April 1 and apply to new applicants and operators seeking to amend their current licences. Under the revised rates, a new online gambling licence will cost €61,300, up from €48,000. Meanwhile, the cost of amending an existing licence will also increase from €8,000 to €10,200.
This fee hike is part of a wider government initiative to modernise the Dutch gambling ecosystem. Last year, authorities introduced new guidelines requiring gambling operators to submit exit plans while applying for a Dutch gambling license. These measures aim to counter the proliferation of illicit gaming sites targeting Dutch players.
Online casinos that entered the regulated market when it first launched will see their licences expire at the end of this year. This means those operators will face the higher fees if they want to renew their licences. “The costs associated with processing an application for a gambling licence remain covered by the fee adjustment,” the gazette states.
Remote Gaming Licence Fees Hiked Amid Higher Tax Rate and 2026 Oversight Plans
Apart from the fee hike for new permits and amendments, the KSA has announced higher charges for other types of gambling permits. The fee for non-incidental gambling has been increased from €28,000 to €35,800, while that for large incidental games of chance, with a total prize pool exceeding €500,000, will also rise from €24,000 to €30,600.
The amended fee structure comes in the wake of lawmakers increasing gambling taxes over the past two years. Since the beginning of 2026, gambling operators have been paying 37.8% in taxes, up from 34.2% the previous year and 30.5% the year before that. The crackdown on gambling sponsorship has further aggravated operational exposure.
Earlier this week, the KSA also released its supervisory agenda for 2026 with five focus areas for the year ahead. These themes include tackling illegal gambling operators, protecting vulnerable groups, supervising the duty of care, supervising advertising, and supervising compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act (Wwft).
Earlier this month, the KSA issued €4.2m and €750k penalties on two operators for violating the Gambling Act. While stringent enforcement is good news for consumers, operators have to adhere to strict guidelines, which can often increase daily expenses. The higher licence fees will add to operators’ regulatory costs as the Dutch market moves into a new enforcement cycle.