Las Vegas is the main association with casino entertainment, but the truth is gambling parlors existed for centuries.
Europe had multiple casinos where the rich could have fun and play card games. People all over the world enjoy playing luck-based, so Belgium and the Netherlands are no different. However, this form of entertainment is regulated differently depending on the country.
There are many places where casinos are legal, but online gambling isn’t, mainly because the online activity is difficult to regulate without the existing infrastructure to do so. This situation is changing as well, and more countries are now opening up new markets for internet gambling operators. One of the reasons could be the recent pandemic when these businesses thrived and achieved record revenue. Here we will talk about Belgium and the Netherlands and see how much Dutch people love to gamble.
One of the most famous gambling parlors in Belgium is called The Casino of Spa, and it has been around since the mid 18th century. In other words, this hobby is in a way a part of their history, and one of the main tourist attractions. Internet gambling however was legalized in 2011, and all of the online casino top sites are required to have a physical presence in Belgium. This ensures more jobs and higher profits for the government. It also indicates that operating costs are higher for the operators, but that doesn’t stop them from incorporating in Belgium. Therefore, it’s clearly a profitable gig, and there is a high demand for it.
The Netherlands also sees massive profits from land-based casinos. It’s a small country that receives millions of tourists, so they want to have entertainment hubs where guests can have a good time. When it comes to online casino Nederland platforms, those became available relatively recently. In October 2021 the market opened up for foreign operators and they applied for the license in the Netherlands. Now, Dutch can enjoy playing on their mobiles, claiming bonuses, and even hitting jackpots, without having to use VPN.
Europe is known for its passion for soccer, and Dutch countries invest a lot in this sport. Since there are many soccer fans, betting on games and tournaments is a common hobby among the Dutch folk. They also love to wager on other sports, and they also love to play the lottery.
It’s also worth pointing out that these countries have a low tolerance for activities that resemble gambling, and don’t have a gambling license. A perfect example is loot boxes from video games. Both the Netherlands and Belgium have banned this feature from video games, and the audience is actually pleased with this decision. Especially, because a lot of underaged players are purchasing them, and that potentially leads to the normalization of gambling.
Although some casino sites offer sports betting, the two activities don’t belong to the same category from a legal perspective. You need different licenses for these forms of gambling. So if we are talking about games exclusively, then slots definitely occupy the top spot. This isn’t really surprising, as the situation is pretty much identical anywhere else in the world. Moreover, players are usually incentivized to play this content, and many bonuses include free spins.
Poker is another popular game and a very social experience. The problem is that poker rooms are not necessarily part of an online casino. The sites usually host video poker games, which are entirely different. However, those that do have poker rooms see a lot of traffic.
Lastly, lots of players prefer to play skill-based games like blackjack. The game is fair, has a really low house edge and some talented people can even triumph over the casino. The live dealer version of the game also attracts a lot of attention, since it provides a more engaging and authentic experience.
As you can see gambling is a popular hobby in both Belgium and the Netherlands. It also contributes to the economic stability of those countries, and due to higher living standards, the activity is not antagonized like in some other parts of the world.
