The Dutch gambling regulator has renewed three monopoly licences held by Lotto BV for another five years, allowing the state-owned operator to continue offering lottery games, instant lotteries such as scratch cards, and land-based sports betting. The new permits will take effect at the start of 2027 and are scheduled to run until December 31, 2031.
Lotto BV’s existing permissions expire on December 31, 2026. The regulator issued the replacements before an ongoing legal process concerning the future of the monopoly system has reached a conclusion. An appeal before the Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State is examining whether the Netherlands can continue operating these gambling categories under the existing exclusive licensing structure.
The authority had preferred to receive the Council of State’s decision before granting another set of monopoly permits. With the existing licences approaching expiry, it determined that delaying the process could create uncertainty over the legal availability of the affected products from the beginning of 2027.
Licences Extend Legal Offering Beyond 2026
Continuity formed a central part of the decision to approve the new five-year period. The regulator also sought to give Lotto BV enough notice about whether the company could maintain its operations once the current permissions reach their expiry date.
In explaining that decision, the authority stated: “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. Lotto BV also needs to receive timely clarity regarding whether it can continue its offering of games after 31 December 2026.”
The permits cover the same three areas that Lotto BV currently operates under exclusive rights. Nederlandse Loterij, the national lottery operator of which Lotto BV is a subsidiary, occupies a state-owned position within the Dutch gambling system. Holland Casino holds a comparable state-owned monopoly position in the casino sector.
Dutch online gambling followed a different regulatory path after the country re-regulated the market in 2021. Before that reform, online gambling had operated within the wider monopoly framework established under the 1964 Gambling Act. Other parts of the country’s gambling sector continue to operate under long-standing monopoly arrangements.
Questions over those structures have persisted for years. In 2016, the European Gaming and Betting Association submitted a complaint to the European Commission concerning monopoly licences and argued that the system provided an economic advantage to incumbent operators. That case concluded in 2025, while questions about the compatibility of the wider Dutch model with European licensing principles have continued.
Court Appeal Could Change Market Structure
The domestic court proceedings now create several possible outcomes for the newly issued licences. The Council of State could determine that the monopoly system must open to additional operators. Under that scenario, Lotto BV could retain its permits while other companies gain the opportunity to apply for licences for the same categories.
A different ruling could affect the validity of the permissions themselves. If the Council of State decides that authorities can no longer award the licences through private negotiation, the regulator could ultimately revoke Lotto BV’s permits.
Any such withdrawal would require preparation for a transparent licensing procedure. The authority has indicated that it would provide time for that process rather than ending the permits immediately following a judgment.
It stated: “Given the preparation time the KSA would then need for a transparent awarding process, any revocation will not take place earlier than one year after the ruling of the Council of State.”
The licences therefore provide Lotto BV with permission to continue its existing activities from 2027 while leaving room for adjustments following the court’s eventual decision. The appeal could affect the exclusive nature of the market or the method used to allocate future permissions.
New Rules Address Players and Ownership Changes
The renewed permits introduce additional requirements concerning player protection and participation by minors. Lotto BV will also have to notify the gambling authority about planned changes involving its ownership or control structure.
The regulator granted the three licences through a private process because of Lotto BV’s position as a state-owned enterprise and the Dutch state’s control over the company.
A change in that ownership position during the five-year licensing period would prompt a fresh regulatory assessment. If Lotto BV undergoes privatisation, the authority will examine whether the new structure affects the conditions under which it received the permits. That review could determine whether the licences can continue under the changed ownership arrangement or require withdrawal.
The possibility of privatisation has previously received government attention. A review conducted last year ruled out privatising the Dutch national lottery or Holland Casino in the short term.
For now, the renewed permissions establish a five-year framework for Lotto BV from January 2027. The continuing proceedings before the Council of State leave the longer-term structure of the lottery, instant lottery and land-based sports betting markets dependent on the court’s interpretation of the Dutch monopoly system.
Source:
Lotto BV monopoly licenses re-granted, kansspelautoriteit.nl, September 11, 2026.
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