The Netherlands' licensed gaming market generated €3.4bn (£2.95bn/$3.59bn) in net gaming revenue (NGR) in 2022, according to a report from regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).
The report is based on 2022 only, as it was the first full calendar year for the Netherlands’ online gambling market.
The country’s market officially opened in October 2021, following the passage and ratification of the much-delayed Remote Gambling Act (KOA). This month marks two years since the market became live. NGR comprises of deposits minus prizes paid out.
NGR for 2022 was up by 85.0% from €2.0bn in 2021. KSA noted that this was due to an increase in both online gambling and land-based play, particularly as Covid-19 pandemic restrictions lifted. Land-based venues were closed in the Netherlands until 25 January 2022, with restrictions still applying until 25 February 2022.
Spending on gambling and advertising
Online casino was one of the Netherlands’ smaller markets in 2022, behind lotteries and land-based gambling. Online casino games accounted for 23% of the market share. Total NGR for casino games was €1.9bn in 2022, making up 56% of the licensed market share.
Sports betting, meanwhile, remained one of the Netherlands’ smallest gambling sectors with 9% market share.
Looking at player behaviour, the average adult in the Netherlands spent an average of €258 on gambling in 2022, compared to €158 in 2021. However, pre-pandemic in 2019 the amount was €221 on average.
In June 2022, KSA introduced a ban on the use of role models in gambling ads. This was followed up by a much stricter ban on a majority of gambling ads in July 2023. KSA estimated that the gambling industry accounts for “several hundred millions of euros” in advertising expenditure.
The report showed that the highest level of ad expenditure on television came from lottery operators in 2022, at 52.4%. Ads from online operators came slightly behind at 40.9% expenditure.
Sports betting boom
KSA also reported that casino games made up €1.9bn of the total NGR in 2022. Country-specific casino games made up €1.1bn. Meanwhile, the number of gaming tables at Holland Casino grew in 2022, ticking up 5.3% to 373.
Last week Holland Casino signed a diversity charter, which has the aim of increasing diversity in the workplace.
Sports betting saw a popularity boom year-on-year in 2022. The report found that sports betting NGR hit €319m in 2022 – up by 262.5%. In total 83% of NGR came from online sports and horse betting in 2022, compared to 17% from land-based betting.
Earlier this month, KSA detailed player behaviour in its fifth online gambling monitoring report. The report revealed a slowdown in market growth, with gross gambling revenue (GGR) growing 8% from January to August compared to 33% growth reported in the previous edition.
