Hard Rock Casino enters crowded Dutch betting market

The operator gained approval from the KSA to add sports betting to its gambling offering in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands.- Hard Rock Casino is set to enter the Netherlands’ sports betting market after receiving regulatory approval from the Dutch gambling regulator KSA. SpinCore Group, the Malta-based company behind the Hard Rock Casino brand, announced via LinkedIn that it has secured approval via iCasion BV, the locally registered company that operates the Hard Rock Casino NL website.

In a statement, the company said: “This marks another exciting chapter in the journey of Hard Rock Casino Netherlands and represents an important step forward in our ambition to deliver an even more complete online gaming experience. Behind this achievement lies an incredible amount of hard work, determination and teamwork.”

The move broadens Hard Rock Casino’s product offering in the Netherlands, where the brand has until now focused exclusively on online casino gaming. The company operates solely within the Dutch market and is not connected to Hard Rock Digital, the global betting and gaming business owned by Hard Rock International.

The approval comes at a time when the KSA is renewing the first wave of Dutch online gambling licences originally issued ahead amid the opening of the regulated market in 2021. The regulator has already renewed licences for operators, including TOTO Online, Holland Casino, Play North, FairPlay Casino, Bingoal, bet365, BetCity and GG Poker.

The sector has been facing pressure amid a tax rise to 38.7 per cent of gross gambling revenue, advertising restrictions and competition from unlicensed operators. Some estimates suggesting channelisation fell to 49 per cent in 2025. Industry association VNLOK has launched legal action against the tech company Meta over what it alleges is the widespread presence of illegal gambling advertising across the platform’s services.