Dutch regulator reveals extent of land-based casino decline during Covid-19
The KSA has released its latest “market scan” with numbers from 2020.
The Netherlands.- It might seem somewhat late coming, but the Dutch gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit has reported on the impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on gaming in the Netherlands.
Its Market Scan 2022 reports that the state-backed gambling monopoly Holland Casino’s share of the Dutch gaming market “plummeted enormously” from 10.7 per cent in 2019 (€288.9m in revenue) to 6.4 per cent (€124.7m) in 2020.
Holland Casino contributed €158.9m in gambling machine net gaming revenue in 2020, with an additional €506.2m generated from the catering industry and arcades. Overall, gambling machine revenues in 2020 dropped to €665.1m, down from €1.19bn in 2019.
Across the industry as a whole, net gaming revenue decreased from €2.7bn in 2019 to €1.94bn in 2020, bringing an end to a period of growth. Lotteries and slot machines continued to be the largest contributors.
As for sports betting, the KSA noted that the sector was already growing before the launch of the new regulated online gaming market in October last year, but that it had been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prior to October 2, there were only two licensed sports betting providers operating in the Netherlands: Loto BV, with its Toto brand, and ZEbetting & Gaming with Runnerz.
The future of the Dutch gaming market
The KSA predicted that the average spend on land-based gambling machines in the Netherlands will continue to fall as more players turn to online gaming following the launch of the regulated market in October.
The KSA expects online casino to continue to grow, but to be spread across a wider number of companies. There are currently 11 licensees, but more companies are expecting licences in the second quarter of the year.
Major players including Entain, Betsson, Kindred Group and Betsson, have been blocking Dutch players since October and hope to obtain licences in April. Ireland’s BoyleSports has plans to enter the market with Aspire Global’s platform.
The KSA noted that Dutch players continue to spend “slightly more on gaming” than in other European markets.
Last month, the regulator issued a consumer warning advising customers that unlicensed gaming sites will soon become inaccessible from the Netherlands. The KSA is preparing to roll out new measures to prevent unlicensed operators from targeting Dutch consumers.
