Remote Gambling Act in force


Gepubliceerd op 1 april 2021

The Remote Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op afstand, Koa), its subordinate legislation and policy rules came into force today, 1 April 2021.

This means that operators may now submit applications to us for a licence to offer gambling via the internet.

How does the procedure work?

The entry into force of the Remote Gambling Act makes it legal to offer gambling via the internet in the Netherlands. In order to do so, operators need a licence from the Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, Ksa). The Ksa aims to issue the first licences by 1 October 2021. On 1 October, the market for online gambling in the Netherlands will actually open up.

All applicants who submit their licence applications on time and in full and who meet the assessment criteria will be issued a licence at the same time. This ensures that all licensed operators can start at the same time. This promotes a fair and level playing field.

In order to actually start operations by 1 October 2021, operators must:

Additional requirements for addiction prevention

The Remote Gambling Act regulates more than just the legalisation and regulation of online gambling. The Act will impose additional requirements with regard to addiction prevention on all (including land-based) operators of risky gambling. For land-based operators, these requirements will apply from 1 April.

New requirements advertising, recruitment

The Remote Gambling Act also introduces new requirements with regard to advertising and recruitment. From 1 April, these will also apply to all gambling operators, including those offering less risky gambling activities, such as lotteries.


See also (in Dutch)

Ready for the Remote Gambling Act? (Klaar voor de Wet Koa?)

Preventing addiction (Voorkomen verslaving)

New requirements advertising, recruitment (Aanvullende eisen reclame en werving)