The Dutch Gambling Authority, known as the KSA, has renewed three monopoly licences held by lottery operator Lotto BV for a five-year period.
The renewed licences will run from the beginning of 2027, allowing Lotto BV to continue its exclusive hold over several key gambling markets in the Netherlands.
Under the renewed terms, Lotto BV retains its exclusive licence to offer lottery games, instant lottery products such as scratch cards, and land-based sports betting.
The decision to renew comes despite an ongoing legal challenge that could ultimately force those markets to open up to competition from other operators.
The Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State is currently considering an appeal that questions the legality of the monopoly model underpinning Lotto BV’s licences.
The KSA acknowledged it would have preferred to wait for that ruling before renewing, but the impending expiry of the existing licences forced the authority to act ahead of the judgment.
In a statement, the KSA said: “It is important in this regard that an uninterrupted legal supply of lottery games, instant lotteries, and land-based sports betting is guaranteed even after 31 December 2026.”
Should the court rule against the monopoly structure, the licences could be subject to revocation, fundamentally reshaping the Dutch gambling landscape.
The newly issued licences come with additional regulations designed to protect players and minors, reflecting the KSA’s ongoing commitment to responsible gambling standards.
Lotto BV will also be required to notify the KSA of any changes to its ownership or control structure under the conditions attached to the renewed licences.
The regulator confirmed that the licences were granted privately, given the state-owned status of Lotto BV, which is a subsidiary of Nederlandse Loterij, the national lottery and sports betting equivalent of Holland Casino.
If Lotto BV were to be privatised at any point during the licence period, the appropriateness of the arrangement would be subject to reassessment by the KSA.
