Dutch government announces temporary gambling tax hike

Fully licensed and regulated operators in the Netherlands currently pay 29% tax on gross gaming revenue from slots, casino gambling and all forms of remote gambling. Under the Dutch government’s budget plan for 2018, this would be increased by 1.1% to a 30.1% tax rate.

However legislators were keen to point out that the tax rate will be reduced back to 29% six months after the country’s new gambling legislation is signed into law. This six month period is to allow the Dutch Gaming Authority, the Kansspelautoriteit, to implement all of the necessary adjustments enshrined in the new law.

The tax hike comes a week after a court in The Hague dismissed gaming operator Betsson’s claim that the authority’s recent clampdown on online gaming operators violated EU regulations, ruling that it was inadmissible in a court of law.

In May, the Kansspelautoriteit instituted new rules prohibiting online gaming operators and their affiliates from targeting local players by using typically Dutch symbols, such as tulips and windmills.

Under the clampdown .nl affiliate websites are prohibited from directing Dutch players to .com iGaming websites, with operators who fail to block traffic from the Netherlands being in breach of regulations and subject to financial penalties. Betsson is among several operators who have expressed their unhappiness at the new tighter regulatory framework.

These restrictions have caused many operators and their affiliates to exit the Dutch gaming market entirely, and this new tax increase will do nothing to stem the tide.

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Robert Simmons

Gambling Writer

Robert Simmons served as a writer for Gambling Insider, where he was an active contributor from 2017 until 2018. Throughout his tenure, Robert executed in-depth market research and wrote over 500 news and press-release articles covering the global gambling industry under strict editorial standards and tight deadlines. He contributed editorial support to the production of five 100+ page Gambling Insider magazines, eight 25+ page Trafficology magazines, and five 25+ page special print focus editions. In addition, he produced 30 in-depth feature articles for print, secured over 30 contributions from external writers, and built long-standing professional relationships with industry stakeholders across all levels of the gambling sector.

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