The Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit, KSA) has confirmed it will open the tender process for the country’s sole horse racing betting monopoly in January 2027. This announcement sets the stage for operators interested in securing the exclusive right to offer land-based pool betting on horse racing events throughout the Netherlands.
The upcoming licence will grant one operator the ability to run totalisator betting at racetracks and physical betting outlets nationwide for a five-year period, starting 1 July 2027 and ending 30 June 2032. The current monopoly licence, held by ZEbetting & Gaming Nederland, is set to expire in mid-2027.
Monopoly Structure and Licence Details
The Dutch totalisator licence operates as a statutory monopoly, allowing only a single provider to offer pool betting on domestic horse and trotting races at land-based locations. Online horse racing betting remains regulated separately under the Dutch remote gambling framework introduced by the 2021 Gambling Act.
According to the KSA, the application window for the new monopoly licence will be open from 4 January 2027 to 31 January 2027. All applicants must pay a non-refundable processing fee of €40,900. Details regarding the application process, as well as the necessary forms, are expected to be published on the KSA website by December 2026.
Two-Stage Tender Process
The tender will be conducted in two distinct phases. The first phase involves a comprehensive assessment of each submission. Evaluation criteria will focus on the applicant’s corporate structure, financial and operational stability, internal controls, integrity, reliability, outsourcing practices, and incident response management.
Applicants are required to demonstrate substantial experience in running offline sports betting operations and outline strategies to prevent excessive gambling, addiction, and underage participation. Effective measures aimed at preventing match-fixing will also be scrutinized, reflecting the KSA’s commitment to sports integrity.
If more than one applicant passes the initial assessment, the second phase will determine the winner through a notarially supervised lottery draw, ensuring a fair and impartial selection process.
Financial Support for the Equestrian Sector
A unique aspect of the Dutch horse racing betting monopoly is its financial support requirement. The chosen licence holder must allocate 10% of monthly gross gaming revenue from Dutch horse and trotting race bets to support the national equestrian sector and associated infrastructure.
ZEbetting & Gaming Nederland, part of the broader Zebet/Zeturf group, is the current licence holder and operates in several European markets, including France, Belgium, and Malta. The company’s licence was last renewed in 2022, with the processing fee for applications increasing by nearly 28% since the previous tender.
Transparency and Regulatory Oversight
The KSA has emphasized that the entire application process will be transparent and competitive, with clear criteria and publicly available documentation. The regulator continues to focus on responsible gambling, sector integrity, and support for Dutch horse racing as central pillars of the licensing regime.
For official updates and further details, interested parties can consult the KSA’s official site.