Dutch lottery CEO criticises gambling tax rise
Arjan Blok says the Dutch gambling tax rate makes the country’s licensed offering “less attractive.”
The Netherlands.- Nederlandse Loterij CEO Arjan Blok has criticised the increase in Dutch gambling tax in January ahead of a further rise to 37.8 per cent in 2026. In a statement published on the lottery’s website, Blok said that another increase will cause more players to turn to illegal gambling and make responsible gambling less attractive.
Blok said: “Players look for a more financially interesting, illegal alternative, where they play without any protection. Almost half of the market is now illegal. While with our games of chance, we have the task of protecting players.”
He added: “Now that the Budget Memorandum also shows that the proceeds from the gambling tax – despite increases – are falling by no less than €263m, there is only one sensible choice: freeze the gambling tax and protect players against illegal supply.”
Eugène Heijnen, the Netherlands’ state secretary for taxation, appears to have ruled out changes to plans for a further rise in January 2026 despire the fact that gambling tax revenue actually declined in the first half of 2025 due to decreases in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in both the online and land-based gambling markets.
