Dutch players haven’t had it easy with gambling in their country. Even though many European countries have already legalized online gambling, the Netherlands did not follow in their footsteps. For the longest time, there was only one land-based casino, Holland Casino, controlled by the government.
Gamblers were allowed to play at offshore sites that were not restricted from operating in the country as long as they were licensed. This opened the country up to risky dealers, probably why they were also banned in 2014. Eventually, legislation was passed that allowed them back in, but some new changes were also on the offing that would change the country’s gambling scene for good.
In 2019, Dutch gamblers were relieved when a new Bill allowed local and foreign entities to apply for licensing that would then allow them to run online gambling sites. It would be pushed to March 2021 and then later to October, but it was still a move in the right direction. That meant players could play with no registration casino sites from home instead of hiding behind VPNs to access offshore sites. This also focuses on users where the government, through The Kansspelautoriteit (Holland’s licensing body), protects the user. There will be expectations where licensed sites will be responsible for players and ensuring that addiction doesn’t become a thing with the legalization of online gambling.
Licensing and Moving Forward
Local casinos were the first to be approved to operate beginning October, with the top names being Betent, Bingoal, Holland Casino, TOTO Online BV, and FPO Netherlands BV, among others. Multinationals that got their licenses include Bet365, LiveScore, Play North Limited, GGPoker, and Tombola. KSA is quite strict, so awardees are expected to uphold the rules laid or get kicked out of the Dutch gambling scene. These licenses are valid for five years.
Games you Can Play Online in Holland
These regular casino games are available to Dutch players when they turn to the interwebs for entertainment;
- Slots
- Table Games
- Live-dealer Games
- Specialty Games
Slots
It would make sense that this category is at the top for all local casino sites. Slots are diverse because they come in various themes and have the smallest bet sizes of all game categories. Game developers develop them in their numbers, and now most of them have been made mobile-compatible to be played from mobile devices. This is one of the qualities that Dutch gamblers are going to take advantage of the fact that they can gamble from their phones any time. You can expect 3 and 5-reel slots to be available at your favorite local site with games from such developers as Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, BetSoft, IGT, and Realtime Gaming, among others.
Some slots you can look out for include;
- Aladdin
- Megah Moolah
- Agent Jane Bond
- Adventure Palace
- 7s to Burn
- Alaxe in Zombieland
Table Games
Card games have been a preference for lots of people for a long time, and it’s easy to see why. They are games of skill, which is quite rare to find at casinos. You have to apply some skills and learn strategies from several online pages dedicated to these. Playing these games online allows you to learn from the strategies shared, sharpen your brain, and you get enough skills to compete at tournaments if you are serious. Online game developers have set different house edges to games, and the houses have a hand in deciding what the return-to-player will be for each game category.
Popular table games this year include;
- 3-Card Poker
- Let it Ride
- Baccarat
- Ultimate Texas Hold ’em
- Pai Gow Poker
- Sic Bo
- Roulette
Live Dealer Games
Online gaming is all most young players know these days because they may have never gotten the chance to play at land-based casinos. Live dealers make this experience as real as they can because you get almost all the perks of playing at a brick-and-mortar house. Table games and video poker are the leading offers on the menu, but they are made for those playing for real money. Those playing free games for practice may want to check regular table games.
Specialty Games
Bingo, keno, and lotto are some of the specialty games you can indulge in at local Holland online casinos. They are easy to play, and as you would expect of low-risk games of chance, their returns are quite low. They have small bet sizes, and so losses are manageable. Typically, casinos have several offers that can help you save some money.
Casino Offers at The Netherlands
The gambling industry is a little saturated, so all that is left is for the new sites to try and get new players from other sites. Bonuses have been working well for years, so why fix what’s not broken?
Welcome Bonuses
These are only available to new players opening accounts for the first time at various casinos, and so you can imagine there are lots of them at these new sites in The Netherlands. They come with conditions – you are to play a set number of times before you can withdraw your winnings and many more that you can read from the T&Cs.
Free Spins
These offers are made for slots where players spin the wheel a few times before they can win. With free spins, you get more chances to play – and win if you’re lucky – without spending your money. Like any other bonus, conditions are attached.
Weekly/Daily Offers
The house determines these, and you stand a better chance of participating if you regularly visit your casino page. Most of them are valid for short periods and have simpler conditions attached to them than welcome bonuses.
Payment Options
eWallets are the most popular banking option with most casinos, so Dutch players are no exception. iDEAL, PaySafeCard, Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal are some of the choices you can expect to find at these sites. Debit cards are also definitely going to be an option, but the gambling authority restricts the use of credit cards for obvious reasons.
Conclusion
If you have been waiting for the chance to play at a local casino in The Netherlands without hiding your IP, then now is the time. These are only a few of the things to expect, but you can bet lots of other exciting features will be revealed over time. While enjoying this new freedom, remember to gamble responsibly.