Best eSports Casinos in Netherlands: Top 10 Casino Websites 2023

History of gambling in the Netherlands

With many bookies covering the largest eSports events, Dutch punters face many challenges, mainly choosing the best casino. For starters, punters must start by looking for casinos that accept Dutch punters. This comes in handy when a player needs to load and withdraw funds from the bookmaker. Other important aspects worth consideration include licensing, game variety, betting markets, and security.

The Netherlands has quite a long gambling history. The first betting activities recorded date back to the 14th century, but experts believe gambling took place long before. However, the gambling laws kept on changing in different eras throughout history. In 1964, the Dutch government began regulating all gambling activities. This followed the enactment of the Betting and Gaming Act, spelling out all the requirements and regulations that operators and punters had to follow.

The legislation remained active for several decades, with only minor amendments being made to it in the late 90s and early 2000s. In 2012, the Dutch Gaming Authority, also known as Kansspelautoritet, was established as an independent regulator. The body operates under the Ministry of Justice and Security, tasked with supervising and regulating all gambling activities in the country to protect punters and prevent illegal gambling.

Key historical changes

There have been numerous changes in the gambling industry in the Netherlands. The main one was in 1964 when the Dutch government introduced new gambling regulations, which resulted in a decrease in illegal gambling operations. Punters could now enjoy protected gambling, but only when using licensed casinos.

The late 90s and early 2000s also came with significant changes in the industry as online betting was introduced. Most punters shifted to online betting due to its numerous benefits over gambling in land-based casinos. The introduction of online betting also marked the highest growth in the number of Dutch punters recorded in history.

The Remote Gambling Act, passed in October 2021, also marked a significant change. That was because it formally legalized most forms of online betting, including eSports betting. Before the Act, punters could still bet online, but no clear regulations were set specifically for online gambling.

Esports betting nowadays in the Netherlands

Online esports betting has gradually gained popularity in the Netherlands over the last decade. More punters prefer betting on eSports because of how reliable the tournaments are. Nearly all eSports events usually follow a strict schedule. The chances of the tournaments being canceled or postponed due to bad weather, political clashes, pandemics, and many other factors are lower than in regular sports tournaments.

Another reason for the growing popularity of eSports betting in the Netherlands is the increasing popularity of the games. More people play eSports games via computers and gaming consoles, which gives them a better understanding of the games. Esports games developers remain keen on employing recent technological advances, which attract more punters and fans to events and tournaments. Punters are thus more aware and knowledgeable of the games and can make more informed betting decisions.

The Dutch government has also recently been supportive of regulated online betting, which contributes to the growing popularity. Punters can place bets on their favorite video game from their preferred betting sites, both local and offshore, without getting into legal trouble.

Future of esports betting in the Netherlands

Esports betting in the Netherlands will likely keep soaring to new heights in terms of popularity. That is mostly because of the supportive gambling laws, which promote regulated gambling to ensure the government collects the most revenue from the industry. The eSports betting providers are also working hard to provide better services and a wider variety of betting markets, which is likely to continue attracting more punters to eSports betting.

Despite eSports betting's prospects, the regulations will likely become more restrictive. With more punters getting into eSports betting, the government will have to introduce new and more stringent rules to prevent or minimize gambling addiction problems and ensure the industry operates optimally.

Are bookmakers legal in the Netherlands?

Esports betting is currently legal in the Netherlands. Punters can bet on any eSports betting site irrespective of where the website is hosted. However, the punters are required to limit their options to the best eSports bookies in the Netherlands with valid licenses issued by Kansspelautoritet (KSA), the Dutch gaming authority.

Esports legislation in the Netherlands

Esports betting in Nethelands became legal in October 2021, when the Remote Gambling Act was passed into law. The Act legalized most forms of online gambling, with eSports betting being among them. Other Acts and legislation governing eSports betting include the Betting and Gambling Act 2021, Betting and Gambling Tax Act 2021, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act, Public Administration Act, Media Act 2008, and Sanctions Act 1977. Secondary legislation include the Remote Gambling Decree, Decree on Recruitment, Advertising and Addiction Prevention, Implementation Decree AML Act, and Implementation Regulation AML Act.

Betting acts in the Netherlands

All forms of gambling, in general, are regulated under the Betting and Gambling Act of 1964. The Act prohibits all forms of gambling activities, except for licensed gambling. Over the years, the Act has undergone several amendments based on arising issues. KSA is the regulatory body charged with ensuring all gambling providers meet the stipulations set by the law.

Licensing

Gambling operators can apply for any of four different licenses based on the gambling services they intend to offer. The first license takes care of games where the punters will play against the license holder. Such include most casino games like roulette, bingo, and slots. The second license is for games in which punters play against each other.

Poker is a good example. The third license targets operators who provide betting markets on the outcomes of sporting contests or events occurring during a sporting contest. Esports betting providers require this license, subject to conditions related to the governance of eSports competitions. Finally, the fourth license covers operators offering betting markets on harness racing and horse racing outcomes.

License application procedure

Gambling operators must start by submitting a fully-filled license application form via a digital application portal of the KSA. The application form addresses reliability, financial stability, AML and match-fixing, business processes, and consumer protection. All applicants must attach other documents to the application form, such as company policies and identification documents, to enhance conformance to the set standards. In addition, they must write all the documents in Dutch or get them translated into Dutch by a sworn translator in the Netherlands.

The KSA will then assess the applications as per the Remote Gambling Policy Rule requirements. Assessments can take up to six months. If approved for a license, the applicants must pay a license handling fee of €48000 before the KSA processes the permit.

The licenses issued are usually valid for a maximum of five years. However, the KSA can give licenses valid for shorter periods in some circumstances. The KSA also reserves the right to revoke a license for various reasons. Reasons may include cessation of business operations, failure to pay license handling fees, failure to comply with the AML legislation, lack of integrity, or any other violation of the terms and conditions of the license.

Legal requirements for punters

Punters are allowed to gamble in any licensed casino under the condition that they are 18 years or older. Punters can also bet using offshore casinos not licensed in the Netherlands without breaking the law. However, doing so comes with no protection from the gambling regulatory authority.

Taxation

The tax rate for land-based casinos in the Netherlands is 30.1%. However, the tax bases differ slightly across existing offers. Operators holding remote gambling licenses are subjected to a tax rate of 29% GGR.

Dutch players' favorite games

The most popular eSports game in the Netherlands is League of Legends (LoL). The country has 11 professional League of Legends teams, which have been performing quite well in numerous eSports tournaments. The game's popularity is also felt in the gambling world as many eSports punters usually bet on League of Legends matches and tournaments. Most of the best online eSports betting sites in the Netherlands offer a long list of betting markets in the following popular eSports titles:

FIFA

FIFA tournaments are not the most popular among eSports fans but are the most bet on eSports in the Netherlands. The game is more of a simulation of real association football, with betting operators offering the same bet types and structures as for association football. Soccer is the most popular mainstream sport in the country, which explains why many punters prefer betting on the game.

Dota 2

Dota 2 is another extremely popular eSports game in the Netherlands. The popularity is fueled by the huge success of Dutch players in the game. Dota 2 is generally one of the most entertaining games, featuring a multiplayer online battle arena.

Valorant

Valorant is a first-person hero shooter game that usually provides numerous betting markets. The game is relatively new and has already attracted many fans and punters, with its popularity still on the rise.

Payment methods in the Netherlands

Dutch eSports punters have a wide variety of payment methods to consider when looking to make deposits or withdrawals. Different punters usually have different preferences, but a few available payment methods seem more popular than others in the Netherlands. Below are the top payment methods in the country.

Credit and Debit Cards

Credit and debit cards are the most popular payment methods in the Netherlands. That is mostly because of how easy and secure it is to use banking cards. The process entails only providing the card details, and transactions are typically processed immediately.

Over 90% of Dutch adults have bank accounts, meaning they have easy access to banking cards. The only drawback to using banking cards is that they are limited to making deposits. Punters must consider other alternatives for withdrawing funds from online eSports betting sites.

E-Wallets

E-wallets are the second most popular payment option among Dutch punters. They are popular mostly because they support deposits and withdrawals, allowing punters to rely on one convenient payment method. There are numerous e-wallet providers to cater to the different needs of most punters.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are also gradually becoming popular among punters in the Netherlands. Their popularity is informed by the fact that crypto payments allow punters to make and receive payments online while covering their tracks.

FAQs

Is betting on eSports legal in the Netherlands?

Betting on eSports became legal from October 2021. Punters are allowed to bet on any of their favorite eSports games from any licensed online casino. However, punters must be 18 years or older to gamble legally.

Do Dutch eSports Betting Sites Offer Bonuses?

Nearly all eSports betting sites in the Netherlands offer bonuses and other promotional offers. The type and amount of bonuses vary among the different betting sites based on factors such as the size of the casino and target market. The betting site operators usually offer bonuses to attract new bettors and retain existing ones.

How can punters find eSports betting casinos?

Punters can find suitable eSports betting sites or casinos in several ways. Such include:

Using internet search engines.
Asking for referrals from friends and colleagues.
Visiting a reputable casino ranking website.

Regardless of the method used, punters are encouraged to do due diligence to ensure the betting site they choose is legitimate and suitable as per their needs and preferences.

Which eSports games can punters bet on in the Netherlands?

Dutch punters can bet on virtually any eSports game available worldwide, as long as the game is legal. Punters only need to find suitable betting sites that offer betting markets in the particular games they are interested in.

Top-rated eSports gambling sites in Netherlands