Dutch regulator sets January date for its horse racing betting licence
The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) will accept applications from 4 to 31 January 2027 for the single licence to run land-based pool betting on horse racing from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2032. Applicants pay a non-refundable EUR 40,900 fee, and if several pass the checks the winner is chosen by a notary-supervised draw.
South Africa runs its own pool betting under provincial totalisator and bookmaker licences, so the Dutch model is a point of comparison, not a change here. It is a land-based monopoly with a fixed term, a set fee and a mandatory share of revenue going to the sport. It does not touch online casinos, which the Dutch regulator treats under a separate remote gambling regime. For South African readers the main value is seeing how a regulator can tender a single licence openly.
What the regulator announced
The KSA published its plan on 29 October. The current totalisator licence belongs to ZEbetting & Gaming Nederland and expires on 30 June 2027. A new licence will cover 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2032.
Because Dutch law makes this a legal monopoly, only one licence exists. It covers pari-mutuel pool betting on horse and trotting races at racetracks and physical betting outlets. Online betting is outside it and falls under the remote gambling licensing system.
How applications will be judged
The window runs from 4 to 31 January 2027, and the form and model licence are expected on the KSA website in December. Applicants pay EUR 40,900 up front, which is not refunded. Industry press notes this is up from EUR 32,000 at the last round in 2022.
In the first stage the KSA checks legal form, continuity, internal supervision, integrity and outsourcing policies, incident handling, measures against excessive play, addiction and underage betting, match-fixing policy and proven experience in offline sports betting. A second stage happens only if more than one applicant passes: a notary runs an unweighted draw.
Money for the sport
The licence holder must pay 10% of monthly gross gaming result from bets on Dutch horse and trotting races to the horse sport sector.
What it means for South African players
There is no direct effect on South African players, and nothing in the announcement concerns online casinos. It is useful context on how a licence can carry duties such as player protection rules and a levy for the sport. South African punters on provincial racing pools remain covered by local provincial licensing, not by anything the Dutch regulator does.
What to watch next
Watch for the application documents in December, the identity of applicants after the January window, and whether more than one applicant reaches the draw stage.