Dutch government makes firm decision on future ownership of state lottery

The Dutch government has opted to retain ownership of the country’s national lottery, the Nederlandse Loterij, deeming the move in line with its policy on gambling.

Netherlands’ policymakers have been reviewing the country’s approach to regulating betting, gaming and lotteries, largely in the context of how the online market launched in October 2021 is developing and adapting.

A potential privatisation of the Dutch lottery was also on the cards, however. This appears to now be off the table, at least for now, according to Tjebbe Van Oostenbruggen, State Secretary for Finance, Taxation, Tax Authorities and Customs.

“The Dutch Lottery will remain a state-owned company in its entirety,” Van Oostenbruggen said in a letter addressed to parliament. The letter was also signed on behalf of State Secretary for Legal Protection, Teun Struycken, a figure who has been playing a key role in defining gambling regulation in the Netherlands.

The duo explained that the decision falls in line with the government’s policy on gambling, which foresees a continuing role for the state to ensure player protection and prevention of illegal gambling.

“I have decided to maintain the shareholding of Nederlandse Loterij (status quo) and not to proceed with (a form of) privatisation,” Van Oostenbruggen’s letter to parliament read.

“The vision on gambling also describes that a balanced and transparent system must be created for the gambling policy in which the social task of protecting people against the harmful effects of gambling is paramount.

“In my opinion, Nederlandse Loterij, precisely as a state-owned company and executor of the gambling policy, plays an important (pioneering) role in this.

“Nederlandse Loterij is currently fulfilling this role satisfactorily and I therefore expect it to continue to fulfil its social mandate, in line with its new strategy, to contribute to the safeguarding of the three policy objectives.”

https://lotterydaily.com/2025/05/16/regulation/dutch-government-lottery/