With the new Dutch Remote Gambling Act taking effect this month, avid casino players in the Netherlands are looking forward to playing their favorite games in a legal, protected environment. The act aims to monitor the online casino market in the Netherlands, protecting Dutch citizens and providing a regulated setting for casino operators.
The Netherland’s current legislation was set in place back in 1964 but was not fit to suit the current gaming market. This is why the Kansspelautoriteit (KAS), the new Dutch gambling authority, started working on putting together an act that will turn the online casino market in the country into one of the strongest and most profitable in all Europe.
These changes come after an increase in popularity for casino games over the past years. In 2018, for example, the gambling market contributed €1.4 billion to the Netherlands ’ GDP, a 9% growth compared to 2015. In total, 40 online casino providers are expected to file for a license now that the legislation is in place. This means that, in 6 months from now, players will be able to enjoy a range of new games and platforms they can play on, all from the comfort of their own homes.
The global online casino market has been evolving a lot in the past years, with new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence being introduced into casino platforms. This can only mean good things for the Dutch and global casino players.
In anticipation of the newly developed online casino market, we are taking a look at the most popular games Dutch gamblers like to play.
Roulette
Roulette is the most played casino game in the Netherlands, with 38% of those surveyed stating it as their favorite game. The name roulette translates to “small wheel” in French and pretty much sums up what the game is all about.
Roulette is a popular casino game throughout the entire world because it is easy to play and has a high chance of returns. The principles of the game are very simple, making it suited for novice and experienced players alike.
The roulette wheel has 38 numbers on it, grouped in red, black, and green positions. 18 of the numbers on the wheel are red, 18 are black, and the remaining two are green. The two green slots belong to the casino, while the rest are free to gamble on, making the odds slightly smaller than 50/50, but still very high. If you are playing the English variation of the game, there is only going to be one green number, boosting the odds in favor of the player.
When the game starts, you will need to place a wager on either a red or black number. The wheel will be spined once all the bets are placed, and a small ball is thrown into it. The slot on which the ball lands is the winning slot. If there are more bets placed on the same number, the players will split the prize.
Blackjack
The second most popular casino game for Dutch players is blackjack, another easy-to-play game with simple rules. It is player by 31% of gamblers in the Netherlands and is expected to grow in popularity even more in the following years.
While the basic rules of the game are easy to understand, attracting plenty of new players, it will take some time until you learn how to master the game. If you want to practice more, you can hunt for good deals online and even get a no deposit bonus with an online casino that you can use to train and study the game.
The main goal of the game is for the player (or the house) to get as close as they can to the number 21 by adding up the numbers on the cards in their hands. The house can use one or more card decks, which will be shuffled, and the dealer will start dealing cards to both the players and themselves. If you manage to get 21 from the first two cards, this is called a clean 21, and it means you win. If not, you can ask the dealer for more cards until you decide to stop. Your aim here is to get a higher score than the dealer without going over 21.
These are the main rules of the game, but of course, there are other variations and particular rules in place, which can vary from casino to casino.
Slots
25% of Dutch players like to try their luck with slots games. Perhaps the most popular type of casino games out there, slots games and their variations are played by millions all over the world. They are fun, easy to play, and can grant some huge winnings for those that are lucky enough to get some bonus rounds.
There are thousands of slots games out there, all with different mechanics, themes, bonuses, and wins. This makes the experience a very complete and immersive one, allowing players to transpose themselves in a different world and come back with some money in the process. You can choose to become the next Indiana Jones with games such as Book of Ra, or keep it classic with games such as Starburst. Speaking of which, feel free to read our Starburst review and play this amazing slot game, knowing exactly what to expect.
There is not much to be explained about how slots games are played. You browse the website’s library of games, you choose the one you like, then all you need to do is press a button, and the wheels will start spinning. The symbols that appear on the screen will dictate your winnings, based on the rules set by the game developers. Usually, you will find some instructions about what each symbol and combination of symbols represent, so that you know what to expect.
Poker
Although poker is a very popular game throughout the world, only a small number of Dutch players are keen to play it. Together with baccarat and bingo, poker interests only about 12% of players, but that does not mean it won’t be a popular game once the online casino market starts to open. There are many variations of poker games, including Texas Hold ‘em, which is the most popular, Pai Gow, and 3 Card poker.