The Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa) has announced plans to launch an open and transparent awarding procedure next year for the exclusive offline totalizator licence governing horse racing betting in the Netherlands. Operating under a statutory monopoly framework, the regulatory body will issue a single licence covering the five-year period from July 1, 2027, up to and including June 30, 2032.
The current totalizator licence is held by ZEbetting & Gaming Nederland BV and is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2027. To ensure a seamless transition, the Ksa will open the application window in January 2027. The totalizator permit exclusively authorizes pari-mutuel pool betting on horse races, restricted strictly to land-based operations such as physical betting offices and wagering facilities located at racetracks.
Online gambling activities remain outside the scope of this permit, as remote wagering is governed by a separate licensing framework. Additionally, the licence holder must allocate 10 per cent of its monthly gross gaming revenue back to the equestrian sector, specifically applicable to bets placed on trotting and horse races organized within the Netherlands.
Two-phase application procedure and requirements
The assessment by Ksa of submitted applications will be conducted across two distinct phases. During the first phase, the Ksa will evaluate all candidates against a comprehensive set of mandatory criteria, which include:
- Legal form and place of establishment.
- Operational continuity and internal supervision structures.
- Corporate reliability and integrity policies.
- Outsourcing protocols and incident management frameworks.
- Robust measures to prevent excessive participation, gambling addiction, and minor access.
- Match-fixing prevention policies.
- Demonstrable professional experience in offering offline sports betting.
A second phase will only be triggered if more than one applicant successfully clears the rigorous initial assessments. In that scenario, the final licence recipient will be selected through an unweighted draw conducted by a civil-law notary.
Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable processing fee of €40,900 in advance. The formal submission window will open on January 4 and close on January 31, 2027. Ahead of the opening, the Ksa intends to publish complete procedural guidelines, including the application form and model permit, on its official website in December 2026.
