The regulated Dutch gaming industry is preparing for a new edition of the Gaming in Holland Conference 2026, one of Europe’s leading industry gatherings, set to take place on June 4 at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam.
Ahead of the event, Willem van Oort, independent iGaming consultant and founder of Gaming in Holland, shared insights into this year’s key topics, with particular focus on the new “Reclaim the Market” initiative aimed at countering the growth of offshore operators.
According to Van Oort, the conference will once again bring together top decision-makers from the regulated Dutch gambling industry, including licensed operators, regulators, and major stakeholders from across the sector.
Confirmed speakers include the CEOs of Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino. In addition, FDJ, the new owner of Unibet, will be represented by a senior executive discussing the current Dutch market landscape.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority will also play a major role during the conference, delivering two presentations focused on upcoming legislative changes and its updated approach to player protection.
Beyond the conference sessions, attendees will also have several networking opportunities, including the event’s traditional boat tour through Amsterdam’s iconic canals.
Van Oort highlighted the presentation by H2 Gambling Capital as one of the most anticipated sessions, as the company will unveil updated growth projections for the Dutch market, often considered a key benchmark for industry discussions.
He also pointed to the presentation from Blask, which will provide in-depth insights into Dutch player preferences, the game categories promoted by licensed and unlicensed operators, and whether player demand truly aligns with operator offerings.
Another major topic will be the expected publication of proposed amendments to the Dutch Remote Gambling Act ahead of the conference. These proposals may include cross-operator deposit limits, a higher minimum age for high-risk gambling products, and several additional regulatory measures.
Within this context, the new “Reclaim the Market” initiative is expected to become one of the central discussions of the event.
Van Oort explained that, as stricter compliance measures continue to impact the regulated market, an increasing number of players have shifted toward aggressive offshore operators, a trend the industry is seeking to reverse.
“The goal is to stop and reverse the migration toward illegal operators,” he noted, emphasizing that licensed operators hold significant market power that can be used to pressure suppliers, payment providers, and affiliates still working with offshore platforms.
The executive also stressed that collaboration between regulators and operators will be essential to limiting the growth of the black market, as both sides share a common interest in strengthening the regulated ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Van Oort stated that B2B licensing will likely become inevitable in order to create a clear distinction between regulated and unregulated offerings.
However, he believes the most significant transformation must happen at a societal level. In his view, gambling is still perceived as somewhat taboo in the Netherlands, which may indirectly push some players toward illegal operators.
“If gambling were treated as a legitimate and transparent form of entertainment, players would naturally gravitate toward licensed operators as the responsible choice,” he concluded.
The full conference agenda and registration details are available via the Gaming in Holland official website
