Dutch government to retain control of Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino amid gambling geform push

The Dutch government has confirmed it will retain ownership of both Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino. The announcement comes after months of speculation over whether the state would proceed with the long-discussed privatization of the country’s national lottery operator.

The decision was jointly announced by State Secretary for Taxation Tjebbe Van Oostenbruggen and State Secretary for Legal Protection Teun Struycken in a formal communication to the House of Representatives.

In the statement, Van Oostenbruggen said privatizing Nederlandse Loterij was not “feasible and proportionate” at this time and would not align with the government’s broader vision for the gambling sector.

According to the secretaries, privatizing the lottery operator would require substantial legislative changes that could potentially weaken safeguards for consumers. The government cited concerns that altering the current structure might expose players to higher risks of gambling-related harm, which it described as an undesirable outcome.

“The government will retain the Nederlandse Loterij as a state-owned company for the time being,” Van Oostenbruggen stated. “Citizens will retain access to a party that is structured differently from commercial gambling providers. In doing so, the government also wants to take responsibility in a market that clearly also has negative aspects and ensure long-term stability.”

Though shelving immediate privatization, the government left the door open for a future reassessment. Van Oostenbruggen noted that any such decision would depend on future developments and must reflect the policy direction of the responsible department at that time.

The government's announcement follows a broader push to reform gambling laws, particularly around online betting. Struycken previously outlined a plan to update current legislation with stricter safeguards, including raising the minimum age for certain high-risk gambling activities to 21 and imposing tighter advertising rules. An updated gambling act is expected to be presented before the end of 2025.

Nederlandse Loterij CEO Arjan Blok acknowledged the government’s position but reiterated his preference for greater independence from the state. “Nederlandse Loterij wants to be the most responsible gambling provider,” he said. “We can be and remain that if we can structurally compete with international competitors on the Dutch market.”

Blok welcomed the government's intention to re-evaluate its stake in the lottery operator in the future, calling it a “positive” sign. “With a safe and responsible range of games of chance, Nederlandse Loterij will continue to perform its social tasks,” he added.

In parallel, the government confirmed it would also retain ownership of Holland Casino, another state-run gambling entity. The operator has faced increasing financial pressure following a 7.3% gambling tax hike implemented earlier this year. A second tax increase is scheduled for January 2026.

Van Oostenbruggen noted that the immediate focus for Holland Casino is to secure its operational stability. Discussions are ongoing between the government and the company regarding recovery strategies, including potential measures to mitigate the impact of rising taxes.

Holland Casino has already undertaken several internal changes in response to the tax burden. These include restructuring its head office, scaling back marketing expenses, adjusting operating hours and gaming offerings, and closing its Zandvoort branch.

Additionally, the company has reached an agreement with tax authorities for a break on COVID-era tax debt payments and secured an extended repayment schedule to ease liquidity concerns.

“Holland Casino will have to develop new measures in the coming period in order to remain viable in the long term,” Van Oostenbruggen stated.