Nederlandse Loterij, the Dutch state-owned lottery operator, remains positive about a potential privatisation attempt by the government.
As part of a periodic procedure, Dutch policymakers are required to review all state-owned assets and devise a strategic decision whether to release them into private hands based on current market trends and performance.
The future of the state operator was previously considered back in 2023, with the review led by the then-Secretary of State for Finance Marnix van Rij, but it remained in state hands.
A subsequent discussion followed in 2025 led to the same outcome. The idea is now once again on the table, brought up by the current Minister of Finance Eelco Heinen in a letter addressed to the House of Representatives.
The latest development follows a turbulent period for Dutch politics which reached a point of stalemate for a short period after the previous cabinet prematurely fell apart last year.
Following a snap election, it is now all systems go for a new coalition that is tasked with rolling out the rest of a list of gambling reforms first introduced at the start of this decade, aimed at improving problem gambling rates in the country.
The privatisation of Nederlandse Loterij – or the Dutch Lottery translated into English – could end up being seen as a necessary change in that journey, which the operator revealed it is not opposed to.
Arjan Blok, Chief Executive Officer of Nederlandse Loterij, said: “It is positive that the government is taking the next step and is taking the shareholding in Nederlandse Loterij to light and thus further exploring the possibility of privatisation. The Dutch Lottery wants to be the most responsible gambling provider.
“We can be and remain so if we can structurally meet international competitors in the Dutch market for lotteries and online gambling. Precisely to be able to maintain this position, the Dutch Lottery sees advantages in independence.
“The letter from the State Secretary leaves in the middle what the timeline is for the follow-up investigation and parliamentary decision-making, while clarity on this subject would be good for all parties involved. The Dutch Lottery hopes that this time path will be further concretized.
“The decision on state participation in the Dutch Lottery is and remains up to politics, as Dutch Lottery has always emphasized. With a safe and responsible range of games of chance, Nederlandse Loterij – in any shareholder structure – continues to carry out its social tasks. Because participating is fun, but it should also remain fun.”