The Dutch regulator KSA has renewed three monopoly licences held by Lotto BV for five years starting January 2027. The operator keeps exclusive rights to run lotteries, instant lottery products such as scratch cards, and retail sports betting.
The decision comes while the Administrative Court of the Council of State considers an appeal challenging the legality of the monopoly model in these categories. KSA would have preferred to wait for the ruling, but Lotto BV's current licences expire on 31 December 2026, forcing the regulator to act early to guarantee continuous legal supply of games.
The new licences include additional player protection and underage safeguards, and require Lotto BV to notify KSA of changes in ownership and control. They were issued without tender because Lotto BV is a subsidiary of state-owned Nederlandse Loterij. If the operator is privatised, the regulator will revisit terms.
If the court finds the monopoly unlawful, the market will open to competitors. Licences may be revoked or left in force but stripped of exclusivity. KSA has already said revocation would come at least a year after the court decision to allow time for a transparent tender process.
The Netherlands opened online gambling in 2021, leaving behind a monopoly framework dating to 1964. The rest of the market remains governed by that law. The European Commission and EU courts have questioned the legality of monopolies after 2021. The European Gaming and Betting Association filed a complaint with the Commission in 2016, arguing that monopolies gave state operators improper economic advantage. The case closed in 2025, but the matter remains unresolved.
