Remote Gambling Act: your rights and obligations as a player

Since 1 October 2021, online gambling has been legal in the Netherlands under the Remote Gambling Act. The Kansspelautoriteit monitors this strictly. Players are only allowed to play at providers with a Dutch license. These parties are required to check your BSN number and consult the CRUKS register. This is how they guarantee fair play, prevent money laundering, and offer protection against addiction through an active duty of care.

What does the Remote Gambling Act mean for you?

For you as a player, this law is all about safety. Online gambling is only legal in the Netherlands at providers with a valid License from the Kansspelautoriteit. This system came into effect on 1 October 2021. It replaced the old ban with regulated market supervision on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Security. Do you choose a license holder under direct supervision? Then you benefit from guaranteed fairness, protection against addiction, and legal certainty regarding payouts.

The law modernizes the outdated Gambling Act (Wok) specifically for digital channels. Under the old Wok, a closed system applied in which online play was effectively prohibited. The new law breaks this monopoly by introducing a licensing system. Providers are now allowed to legally offer their services to Dutch players. However, they must meet strict requirements regarding addiction prevention and integrity. The law creates a new framework for 'remote gambling'. These are games in which you participate without physical contact with the organizer.

Who supervises the implementation?

The Kansspelautoriteit is the independent regulator that enforces the law on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Security. This authority assesses license applications, grants licenses, and continuously monitors compliance with rules. A legal provider must possess a License and make this demonstrable. You often see the wordmark of the Kansspelautoriteit on the website. The regulator checks whether providers comply with the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (Wwft). They also monitor gaming behavior. Via the Kansspelwijzer, you can verify which companies have a valid license. This is the first step to a safe gaming environment. Well-known parties such as Holland Casino Online, TOTO, and Unibet meet these requirements and operate within this legal framework.

Your safety: CRUKS, identity, and duty of care

The explanation of the remote gambling act for players rests on three pillars: registration in the Central Register for Exclusion of Gambling (CRUKS), strict identity verification via your BSN number, and the active duty of care of providers. These measures are not bureaucratic hurdles. They are essential safeguards against money laundering and gambling addiction. Legal operators automatically check whether you are registered in CRUKS. They proactively monitor your gaming behavior to limit risks.

How does the link with CRUKS work?

The Central Register for Exclusion of Gambling, better known as CRUKS, is a national system. It contains the names of individuals who are temporarily or permanently excluded from gambling due to gambling problems. Every license holder is legally required to consult this register before a player is granted access to the platform. Are your details in CRUKS? Then registration at legal sites is immediately refused. This link primarily serves as a tool for addiction prevention. It prevents vulnerable players from impulsively depositing money during a crisis period. The exclusion applies for a minimum of six months up to a maximum of 99 years, depending on the severity of the situation.

Why is verification via the BSN number and DigiD mandatory?

Providers use your BSN number for unique identification, often linked to verification via DigiD. This is necessary to perform age verification (18+) watertight. It also combats money laundering in accordance with the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (Wwft). By linking the BSN number to your account, the operator knows for sure that you are who you say you are. Identity fraud is thus ruled out. They store this data encrypted in a control database. Only the Kansspelautoriteit has access for supervisory purposes. Without this verification, no transaction may take place. This effectively curbs financial crime within the sector.

What does the duty of care of casinos entail?

Casinos have an active duty of care. They must identify risky behavior and intervene in a timely manner. This goes beyond passive rules. Operators analyze gaming behavior and warn players via pop-ups if their stake deviates from previously set limits. Guidelines for addiction prevention, such as the Ksa's Duty of Care Guideline, support this. Providers must proactively initiate a conversation in case of deviating patterns. Players can set gaming limits for time and money themselves. The provider must intervene if these limits are structurally ignored. In case of serious signals, the operator advises or obliges registration in CRUKS to prevent further damage.

Financial matters: tax, bonuses, and payment methods

At legal providers in the Netherlands, you as a player do not have to pay Gambling Tax yourself. The license holder deducts this withholding tax directly from winnings above the threshold value. Paid-out amounts are therefore net. You do not have to file a return with the Tax Authorities. Promotions are subject to strict rules of the Advertising Code Committee. Safe payment methods such as iDEAL are standard. Credit facilities often remain blocked to prevent excessive gaming behavior.

Do I have to pay gambling tax myself?

No, with a provider holding a Dutch license, you are freed from administrative burdens regarding the tax authorities. The Gambling Tax is 29% of the gross gaming result. This only applies if the prize is higher than €499 per game round or promotion. Crucially, the legislator looks at the paid-out sum, not at your net profit (payout minus stake). The legal provider acts as the withholding agent. They pay the tax directly to the state. You receive the remaining amount in your account without further obligations.

Do you play at an illegal site without a Dutch license? Then the responsibility lies entirely with you. You must declare the winnings yourself and pay the 29% tax. In addition, you run the risk that the provider will not pay out at all. Then you lose twice: your stake and the potential tax assessment on winnings you never received. Therefore, always choose a licensed party to avoid this tax complexity.

What rules apply to bonuses?

A Bonus is a marketing tool, but since the introduction of the KOA Act, the rules have been tightened. The Advertising Code Committee ensures that advertising and promotions do not encourage excessive or risky gaming behavior. Specifically, this means that advertising for bonuses may not be aimed at persons under the age of 24. Offering bonuses during active play is prohibited.

Read the Bonus Terms carefully before accepting a welcome bonus. These terms must be transparent and make clear what is expected of you, such as any wagering requirements. Furthermore, you always have the right to opt for "no bonus" (opt-out). This way, you are not unwantedly bound by restrictions that could block your payouts. Remember: a bonus is never 'free money', but a contract with specific conditions that affect your gaming behavior.

Are all payment methods allowed?

For safe transactions, iDEAL, a direct online bank transfer, is the standard with Dutch providers. This method links directly to your own bank account. It offers high security because the bank has already verified the identity of the payer. Other methods such as prepaid cards or e-wallets may also be available. However, they must comply with the strict anti-money laundering rules (Wwft) that license holders must adhere to.

Notably, credit cards are often blocked for deposits. This is not a technical limitation, but a conscious choice within the duty of care. Using credit while gambling can lead to debt problems. This goes against the principle of responsible gaming. By refusing credit card payments, the regulator forces providers to let players play with money they actually possess. Always check whether the payment method is linked to your own name to prevent problems with payouts.

How to recognize a legal and safe online casino

A legal provider operates exclusively with a valid license from the Kansspelautoriteit. As a player, this offers direct protection against fraud and addiction. Transparency is the core of this safety. Always check whether the platform is listed on the official Kansspelautoriteit Whitelist and displays the mandatory Wordmark. Without this verification, you are playing at an illegal provider. You then waive crucial safeguards such as guaranteed payouts and access to the CRUKS register.

Where can you find the whitelist of legal providers?

The Kansspelautoriteit publishes an up-to-date Kansspelautoriteit Whitelist via the Kansspelwijzer. This lists all holders of a license. Never play at providers that are not on this list. Their status has not been verified by the regulator. This list is the only reliable source to determine whether a site is under Dutch supervision. An illegal provider will deliberately be missing from this register, despite potential misleading claims on their own website.

What is the official wordmark for legal sites?

Legal providers prominently display the Wordmark 'Vergunning Kansspelautoriteit' in the footer of their website. This is unmistakable proof of legitimacy. This Wordmark is linked to the license and may only be used by recognized entities. Although an illegal provider sometimes unlawfully copies this logo, the combination with the Kansspelautoriteit Whitelist offers certainty. The absence of this specific Wordmark is a direct signal of risk.

What are the risks of an illegal provider?

With an illegal provider, you have no right to a payout. There is no CRUKS protection and no recourse to the Kansspelautoriteit in case of disputes. Unlike legal platforms, these sites do not perform mandatory identity checks. This increases money laundering risks. Players at an illegal provider lack the duty of care and fall outside the Kansspelautoriteit Whitelist. They are therefore completely uninsured against manipulation.

About this article - Editorial standards

• Author: Sarah Weber - Casino Tester & Bonus Analyst

• Fact-checked by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming Compliance Analyst

• Last updated: 2026-08-10.

This article about "remote gambling act explanation for players" was written by Sarah Weber and fact-checked by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content following changes in regulations, licenses, and bonus terms. All references to licenses, regulators, and legislation link to public sources (the local gambling regulator, the applicable local gambling legislation).

About the author

8+ years of experience reviewing casinos, 200+ personally tested platforms within the EU and worldwide. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering requirements, payout processes, and customer service evaluation.

About the reviewer

More than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, including 5 years as a compliance consultant for license holders in multiple regulated markets. PhD in economic mathematics. Focus areas: bonus mathematics, wagering analysis, and player protection systems.

Responsible gambling

Gambling can be addictive. If you feel you are losing control of your gaming, please contact the relevant gambling helpline or use the national self-exclusion register (the relevant national self-exclusion register). Set personal deposit and loss limits BEFORE playing with real money. Breaks and cool-off tools from the provider are there to keep gaming manageable.

Legal notice

The information in this article is intended solely for editorial and comparative purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Players themselves are responsible for complying with local regulations.