VNLOK, an industry trade body in the Netherlands, has issued a brief statement in which it expressed strong doubt about whether the recent tax increase on gambling has yielded the desired effects.
VNLOK says that the Netherlands is collecting less revenue after the tax hike already
According to VNLOK, the increase of the gambling tax to 34.2% has diminished rather than boosting the proceeds collected by the government from the industry. VNLOK has argued that the revenue collected in H1 2025 was €30m less than the amount collected over the same period a year prior.
This, VNLOK argued, was a clear way to demonstrate the lack of efficacy of a higher tax rate that is doing nothing to make the industry more competitive. VNLOK also believes measures should be taken immediately to ensure that the industry is back on the right track.
VNLOK wants to first freeze the tax rate at 34.2% and calls on the government to further investigate what its impact could be.
The trade body similarly calls for closer scrutiny of illegal gambling, and has reminded that half of the total gambling spending is flowing offshore and at websites that are not regulated by the Dutch Gambling Authority.
Apart from addressing the current gambling tax rate, the VNLOK has similarly called for hammering out policies that will stop driving players away to illegal gambling.
Fewer losing accounts, but a predicted drop in tax revenue as well
VNLOK has maintained its thesis that over-regulating without examining the effects of each new change will only serve to empower the black market. However, the government and its policies cannot be blamed entirely, as fewer accounts are now losing more than €1,000, for example.
However, the fear remains that a lot is channeled into offshore gambling. VNLOK also estimates that the government is now on track to lose €200m in 2025 compared to 2024 in tax revenue that it won’t collect because of the new regulation.
The Netherlands has also been cracking down on illegal gambling promotions and is looking to restrict the offshore market’s access.
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