Remote Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op afstand, "Koa")
The statute that legalised and regulates online gambling in the Netherlands
Last verified: 2026-09-20
Koa entered into force on 1 April 2021 and amended the Betting and Gaming Act (Wok); online gambling became legal on 1 October 2021. Licences run for five years.
Remote Gambling Act (Koa)
Overview
The Remote Gambling Act entered into force on 1 April 2021, and online gambling became legal on 1 October 2021. It is implemented through subordinate legislation and KSA policy rules (beleidsregels). The KSA's licensing policy rules were first published in the Staatscourant in 2021 (nr. 13407), were replaced by 2023 rules, and have been replaced again by the BRVKOA 2026 (Staatscourant 2025, nr. 29698), which apply from 1 January 2026. Koa licences are granted for five years.
Koa entered into force 1 April 2021. [1]
Original 2021 KSA licensing policy rules, as published in the Staatscourant. [2]
BRVKOA 2026 licensing policy rules, in force since 1 January 2026. [3]
BRVKOA 2026, as published in the Staatscourant (2025, nr. 29698). [4]
Key facts
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Verified
The Remote Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op afstand, "Koa"), its subordinate legislation and its policy rules came into force on 1 April 2021, from which date operators could apply to the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) for a licence to offer gambling via the internet.
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Verified
Online gambling became legal in the Netherlands on 1 October 2021, when the regulated online market opened; the KSA had granted the first Koa licences in September 2021.
Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS), Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), Kansspelautoriteit (KSA)
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Verified
Koa licences are granted for a term of five years.
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), SBC News, Gambling Insider
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Verified
Since 1 January 2026 the KSA's licensing policy rules for remote gambling (BRVKOA 2026, Beleidsregels vergunningverlening kansspelen op afstand 2026) apply, replacing the 2023 policy rules.
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), Staatscourant (Dutch Government Gazette)
Sources
- Kansspelautoriteit (KSA)Primary source — Remote Gambling Act in force — https://kansspelautoriteit.nl/remote-gambling-act-force
- Staatscourant (Dutch Government Gazette)Primary source — Beleidsregels vergunningverlening kansspelen op afstand (Stcrt. 2021, 13407) — https://www.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2021-13407.pdf
- Kansspelautoriteit (KSA)Primary source — Beleidsregels vergunningverlening kansspelen op afstand 2026 — https://kansspelautoriteit.nl/beleidsregels-vergunningverlening-kansspelen-op-afstand-2026
- Staatscourant (Dutch Government Gazette)Primary source — Beleidsregels vergunningverlening kansspelen op afstand 2026 (Stcrt. 2025, 29698) — https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2025-29698.html