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(AsiaGameHub) – The Dutch gambling sector is facing significant pressure as it enters June. Revenue from legal online channels has plateaued, participation on unlicensed platforms is increasing, and the tax rate on gambling has reached a peak unseen since the market’s launch in October 2021. Amidst these circumstances, Gaming in Holland has finalized the complete roster of speakers for its upcoming June 4 conference in Amsterdam.
Key Highlights
- Scheduled for Thursday, June 4, the Gaming in Holland Conference 2026 will be held at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam.
- Legal online GGR in the Netherlands for the second half of 2025 stood at approximately €602 million, while channelization by expenditure dropped below 50%.
- As of January 1, 2026, the gambling tax rate increased to 37.8% of GGR.
Amsterdam Conference Convenes Amid Mounting Pressure in Dutch Market
Gaming in Holland has finalized its June 4 agenda with a lineup of regulators, operators, consultants, and payments executives, establishing the Amsterdam gathering as a vital status check for a market that appears more tense than it did twelve months prior. Confirmed speakers include Ella Seijsener and Floor van Bakkum of the Kansspelautoriteit, Arjan Blok from Nederlandse Loterij, Holland Casino’s Petra de Ruiter, Björn Fuchs representing VNLOK, Josh Hodgson of H2 Gambling Capital, as well as Frank Tolboom, Robin Bleichrodt, Leo Judkins, Maarten Wessels, Dr. Andreas Ditsche, and Richard Dennys.
The timing of the event is crucial. According to KSA oversight, legal online GGR remained largely stagnant at around €602 million during the second half of 2025, while roughly 20,000 to 30,000 individuals were found to be wagering exclusively on unlicensed websites. Most significantly, the proportion of overall gambling expenditure directed toward licensed operators dipped below 50% for the first time.
This context clarifies the conference’s central theme. Discussions will center on the expansion of the illicit market, regulatory issues, commercial pressures, mergers and acquisitions, responsible gambling, and political factors, all framed within the broader scope of Gaming in Europe and its #ReclaimTheMarket initiative. Willem van Oort, founder of Gaming in Holland, remarked:
“The Netherlands Gambling Authority will offer an update on recent regulatory shifts. Top operators are also strongly represented. For those seeking insight into the current state of the Dutch gambling market, this is the premier event to attend.”
Two breakout sessions will focus on practical applications. Chris Adriaansz and Joris Crone will discuss relicensing, a pertinent subject given that the initial five-year remote licenses issued in 2021 are set to expire on September 30, 2026. Meanwhile, Jochen Biewer will tackle AMLR and AMLA, topics of increased urgency following AMLA’s inaugural public hearing on March 24, 2026, and with the wider EU AML framework scheduled to take effect on July 10, 2027.
Taxation remains a dominant issue. Dutch industry associations and key operators have already voiced opposition to the recent rate hike, contending that elevated costs and stricter regulations are inadvertently pushing players toward the unlicensed market rather than bolstering the legal one.
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