Dutch court upholds gambling restrictions on lottery online games

The Amsterdam District Court has upheld a ruling by the Dutch gambling authority (Kansspelautoriteit) regarding online games offered by the Nationale Postcode Loterij and VriendenLoterij. The court ruled that these games, which provided participants with free credits that converted into lottery numbers for extra drawings, constituted remote gambling activities that fell outside the scope of the lotteries' existing licenses.

The court determined that the interactive elements used to make participation more attractive meant the offerings were more than just digital lottery tickets. Consequently, the lotteries must comply with stricter remote gambling regulations. Both organizations have indicated they will appeal the decision to the Council of State within six weeks.

In a broader context of the Dutch regulated market, the Kansspelautoriteit is currently processing license renewals as existing permits expire on September 30. Five operators—TOTO, Kansino, Fair Play, Holland Casino, and Bingoal—have been cleared for new five-year licenses effective October 1, 2026. Meanwhile, Betcity, bet365, and GGPoker have not yet announced renewal status. The Dutch government is also considering a cap on the total number of online gambling licenses available.