Dutch Regulator Issues First Eight Follow-Up Online Gambling Licences

The Netherlands Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, or KSA) has granted its first eight follow-up online gambling licences, the regulator confirmed on 17 September 2026. The move matters because the first wave of Dutch online licences — issued when the regulated market launched in 2021 — is now approaching expiry.

Why the Dutch market needs new licences

When the Netherlands opened its regulated online market in 2021, licences were issued with five-year terms. Those terms cannot simply be rolled over: Dutch remote-gambling licences expire — the earliest around 1 October 2026 — and operators must apply for an entirely new licence rather than extend the existing one. The follow-up round is the mechanism that keeps compliant operators in the market past that cliff-edge.

Who is in the first group

The KSA named the eight licensees as TOTO, Holland Casino Online, Kansino, FairPlay Casino, Bingoal, Bet365, GGPoker and BetCity — the announcement is on the regulator's own news page.

What it means for the Dutch market

The follow-up round is a continuity event, not an expansion. It signals that the KSA's re-licensing process is functioning and that established operators are clearing it. For players, the practical effect is stability — the brands they use continuing under fresh licences. For prospective entrants, it is a reminder that the Dutch market runs on fixed-term licences and periodic re-application, not perpetual authorisation.

BonusLists analysis

The interesting detail is the calendar. The original licences expire around 1 October and the first follow-ups landed on 17 September — a fortnight of headroom. That is a deliberately tight but functional runway, and it tells you the KSA intends the transition to be seamless rather than disruptive. Watch the pace of the remaining approvals: a smooth, steady rollout signals a mature regulator; a bottleneck near the expiry date would signal the opposite.