Paying out winnings from a foreign casino to the Netherlands: tax & rules

If you pay out winnings from a foreign casino to the Netherlands, you are personally responsible for the declaration and payment of gambling tax. Legal operators remit this tax. At casinos without a Dutch license, you pay 37.80% on the gross prize. The exemption of € 449 usually does not apply to online gaming without a license. Check the register of the Kansspelautoriteit to avoid fines and double taxation.

Tax obligations on winnings from a foreign casino

When paying out winnings, the tax burden rests entirely on the player. Legal operators remit tax. At foreign casinos, you must declare every euro received to the Belastingdienst yourself. This process requires accurate record-keeping, as authorities can trace foreign assets through systems such as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS).

When do you have to pay gambling tax yourself?

You are personally liable for the Gambling Tax as soon as you play at a foreign casino that does not hold a license from the Dutch Kansspelautoriteit. At a legal online casino, such as Holland Casino or TOTO, the operator already remits the tax to the Belastingdienst. However, if you play on platforms with a license from Malta or Curaçao, this protection lapses. In that scenario, the Gambling Tax is inextricably linked to the winner, not the organizer. An EU license does not offer tax exemption from the Dutch tax authorities.

How do you calculate the tax on your winnings?

The current rate for the Gambling Tax is 37.80%. A critical detail that is often overlooked is that this 37.80% is calculated on the gross prize (the paid-out amount), and not on your net winnings after deducting the stake. This means that with a high stake and a small win, the tax assessment can end up higher than your actual profit. You must pay this amount to the Belastingdienst yourself, which has a direct impact on the liquidity of your transaction.

What is the threshold for declaration?

For physical, offline games of chance abroad, an exemption up to € 449 applies. If you win more than € 449, you must file a declaration yourself. For online games of chance without a Dutch license, the situation is more complex: the Belastingdienst often applies stricter rules where the € 449 exemption does not automatically apply, or where any win above the stake is deemed taxable. It is essential to document all transactions, including crypto withdrawals, to meet the burden of proof when filing a declaration.

Legal status: licenses and the Ksa register

Paying out winnings is only worry-free if the operator holds a valid license. A legal online casino remits the Gambling Tax itself, making your net winnings tax-free. If you play at an illegal online casino, you as the player are responsible for the declaration yourself and risk fines from the Belastingdienst. The Kansspelautoriteit strictly monitors this market and enforces the rules through the Cruks register.

How do you recognize a legal online casino?

A legal online casino can be recognized by an active license from the Kansspelautoriteit. This regulator only grants licenses to parties that meet strict requirements for player protection and integrity. You can verify the status of an operator directly in the public register on the website of the Kansspelautoriteit. In addition, registration with Cruks (Central Register for Exclusion of Games of Chance) is mandatory. This system links all legal operators together to prevent problematic gambling behavior. Operators like Unibet and Jack’s Casino display the Ksa logo prominently on their site, indicating that they fall under Dutch supervision and handle the tax remittance for you.

Risks of playing at an illegal online casino

At an illegal online casino, the legal protection offered by a license is lacking. The Kansspelautoriteit cannot intervene in disputes, meaning you are on your own in case of fraud or payout issues. From a tax perspective, this is disadvantageous: winnings at operators without a Dutch license are not automatically tax-free. You must calculate and remit the Gambling Tax to the Belastingdienst yourself. If you fail to do so, you risk high fines. Furthermore, internet service providers can block access to these sites, leading to frozen funds.

The role of the Remote Gambling Act

The Remote Gambling Act (Wet Koa) has regulated the online market since 2021 and makes obtaining a license possible. This law obliges operators to participate in Cruks and to remit tax. Playing with operators without this license is tax disadvantageous for the player, as the Kansspelautoriteit classifies these parties as illegal. A legal online casino takes care of the tax burden, while with foreign operators, the burden of proof and duty to declare lie entirely with you.

Practical methods for payout to the Netherlands

Paying out winnings requires a strategic choice of payment methods to avoid bank blocks and high costs. Traditional bank transfers are often refused, making players dependent on fintech services such as Wise and Revolut, or alternatives such as cryptocurrency. These methods avoid blocks, but carry higher costs and risks.

Use of fintech services such as Wise and Revolut

Services like Wise and Revolut often offer lower exchange rate costs and faster transfers than traditional banks for international transactions. Revolut, a digital banking service, and Wise, a specialized platform for cross-border payments, act as a buffer between the foreign casino and your Dutch main account. Users often report that winnings via these channels are available faster, as they filter less strictly for gambling transactions than major Dutch banks.

The use of these services does not exempt you from tax obligations. Even if you have winnings paid out to a foreign account or via platforms like Revolut or Wise, you remain liable for tax in the Netherlands. The Belastingdienst can easily check whether you have assets abroad through international agreements such as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). It is crucial to accurately keep transaction statements from Wise and Revolut as evidence for your declaration, as these platforms provide detailed logs that are missing from anonymous methods.

Cryptocurrency as a payout method

Bitcoin and other cryptos are often used at foreign casinos to bypass bank blocks, but they bring their own volatility and conversion risks. At operators without a Dutch license, such as many Curaçao casinos, Bitcoin is often the only reliable payout method. This cryptocurrency allows players to send funds directly to a personal wallet, without the intervention of traditional financial institutions that can freeze transactions.

The risk lies in the conversion to euros. When you convert Bitcoin via a Dutch exchange, you must comply with strict KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures. The origin of the funds may be subject to questions here. Furthermore, the value of Bitcoin fluctuates heavily. A win of €1000 in crypto can be worth less upon payout and conversion due to exchange rate drops. Always keep the transaction hash and screenshots of the payout as digital evidence for the Belastingdienst, as these 'traces' are essential for accounting for your income.

Traditional methods and bank blocks

Trustly and PayPal sometimes do not work at illegal operators. Dutch banks can block transactions based on guidelines from De Nederlandsche Bank and the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa). PayPal, a globally known e-wallet, has strict policies against gambling transactions in unregulated markets, leading to frozen accounts or refused payouts. Trustly, which links directly to bank accounts, is often blocked because it makes the origin of the casino directly visible to your bank.

Players who nevertheless attempt to pay out through these channels risk their account being temporarily closed for investigation. Because foreign casinos do not hold a Ksa license, the Dutch regulator offers no protection in payment disputes. It is therefore wise to verify in advance which payment methods the casino supports and whether they are compatible with your financial institution, to prevent surprises afterwards.

Enforcement, CRS and administrative obligations

Paying out winnings entails direct tax and legal consequences. The Belastingdienst actively monitors international money flows through the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), meaning winnings on foreign accounts or platforms like Wise do not go unnoticed. Players themselves are responsible for declaring and paying gambling tax, regardless of the operator's license. Ignoring this duty can lead to high fines and back taxes, while keeping detailed transaction statements is essential for the required administrative burden of proof.

What is the Common Reporting Standard (CRS)?

The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) is an international framework for the automatic exchange of financial information between tax authorities. Through CRS, countries exchange financial data, allowing the Belastingdienst to gain visibility into foreign accounts and undeclared winnings. This system makes it possible for the Dutch tax authorities to check whether residents are meeting their obligations, even if they use fintech services such as Revolut or Wise to transfer money. The relationship between CRS and the Belastingdienst is therefore direct: the authority periodically receives reports from foreign financial institutions about account balances and payouts to Dutch residents. Trying to hide winnings by having them deposited into a foreign account makes little sense due to this transparency and increases the risk of an audit.

Influence of European regulations and licenses

Many players think that a license from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or Curaçao eGaming offers protection against Dutch taxation, but this is a misconception. Licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao eGaming do not offer exemption from Dutch tax liability. The MGA, based in Malta, applies strict rules for consumer protection, but this does not remove the tax responsibility of the player in the Netherlands. Likewise, Curaçao eGaming operates under its own legal framework, but for the Dutch tax authorities, the player's place of residence remains decisive, not that of the licensor. If you win at an operator without a Dutch license, you must file a declaration and pay tax on the gross prize yourself. The absence of a Dutch license also means that the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) does not supervise the payout, which entails extra risks for the safety of your money.

Administrative burden of proof and anti-money laundering legislation

Due to the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act (Wwft), casinos may request extensive identification before paying out large amounts. This law obliges financial institutions and gambling operators to verify the origin of money, leading to strict KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures. For the player, this means you must keep detailed records. Carefully save transaction statements, screenshots of winnings, and email confirmations for the Belastingdienst in case of an audit. Without a Dutch license, you will not receive an automatic annual statement, meaning the burden of proof lies entirely with you. Failing to produce these documents can lead to questions about the legality of the assets and potential freezing of funds by banks that flag suspicious transactions.

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About this article - Editorial standards

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino Tester & Bonus Analyst

Fact-checked by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming Compliance Analyst

Last updated: 2026-07-20.

This article about "paying out winnings from foreign casino to the netherlands" was written by Sarah Weber and fact-checked by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content in response to changes in regulations, licenses, and bonus terms. All references to licenses, regulators, and legislation link to public sources (the local gambling authority, the applicable local gambling law).

About the author

8+ years of experience reviewing casinos, 200+ personally tested platforms within the EU and worldwide. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering requirements, payout processes, and customer service evaluation.

About the reviewer

More than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, including 5 years as a compliance consultant for license holders in multiple regulated markets. PhD in economic mathematics. Focus areas: bonus mathematics, wagering analysis, and player protection systems.

Responsible gambling

Gambling can be addictive. If you feel you are losing control of your gaming, please contact the relevant gambling problem helpline or use the national self-exclusion register (the relevant national self-exclusion register). Set personal deposit and loss limits BEFORE playing with real money. Breaks and cool-down tools from the operator are there to keep gaming manageable.

Legal notice

The information in this article is intended solely for editorial and comparative purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Players themselves are responsible for complying with local regulations.