Dutch Government Holds the Line on Gambling Market Entry Loopholes

The Dutch government is not planning to introduce new restrictions on how gambling companies enter the regulated market, despite growing political concern about operators finding indirect ways back in.

Questions have been raised in parliament about whether companies with a history of operating without a licence can return through takeovers or layered corporate structures. These arrangements can make it difficult to pinpoint who is really behind a licence, especially when multiple entities are involved.

One example that drew attention involves 888 Holdings. The brand has been active in the Netherlands since mid-2025, but it operates under a licence held by Godwits LTD, part of ComeOn Group. At the same time, the brand itself is owned by evoke plc. For some lawmakers, that kind of setup highlights a potential gap between who runs a platform and who holds the legal responsibility.

Pressure From Parliament

The issue was pushed forward by MPs including Mirjam Bikker, Jimmy Dobbe, Tijs van den Brink and Diederik van Dijk. They asked whether the current system is strong enough to prevent companies from effectively re-entering the market through the back door.

Their concern is not just theoretical. As the gambling industry becomes more international, ownership structures are becoming more complex. That can blur the lines between compliance and circumvention.

Government Sticks With Existing Framework

State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen has pushed back on the idea that new rules are needed. In her view, the existing system already gives the regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit, enough authority to assess applications and step in if something does not add up.

At the heart of that system is a reliability test. Companies applying for a licence, along with their executives and owners, are examined closely. Any past involvement in illegal gambling activities can weigh heavily against them, even if those activities took place outside the Netherlands.

There is also a cooling-off period under the Remote Gambling Act. Operators must show they have not targeted Dutch players without a licence for nearly three years before applying. Some applications have already been rejected for failing to meet that standard.

A Question of Enforcement

The government’s position relies heavily on the powers of the Kansspelautoriteit. The regulator can impose fines, attach conditions to licences, or revoke them entirely if rules are broken.

Still, the bigger question is how those powers hold up against increasingly complex business structures. When ownership is spread across multiple companies and jurisdictions, assessing responsibility becomes less straightforward.

For now, the government appears comfortable with leaving those judgments in the hands of the regulator. There are no plans to introduce additional safeguards, and officials continue to describe the current system as strict enough.

Whether that confidence proves justified may depend on how the market evolves and how aggressively companies test the boundaries of the existing rules.

Dutch Government Holds the Line on Gambling Market Entry Loopholes

Pressure From Parliament

Government Sticks With Existing Framework

A Question of Enforcement

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