Guest Blog

The Netherlands Sports Betting Market: 2026 FIFA World Cup Opportunity

Market Overview Germany’s legal sports betting market, across both online and retail channels, generated approximately €8.5 billion in turnover during 2025, representing modest year-over-year growth of around 1%. Football remains the dominant sport, accounting for approximately 78% of this wagering activity, according to the GGL’s 2024 data. Based on H2’s proprietary player survey data conducted in early 2026, international fixtures represent a relatively small share o

Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Consultant at Quod Bonum Consulting & former Managing Director of the Netherland Online Gambling Association The call “Let’s reclaim the market” goes to the heart of the matter: when the illegal market grows, everyone else loses, and gamblers especially so. During the opening of last year's Gaming in Germany Conference, the so-called “grey market” was re-labelled for what it really is: an ecosystem in which illegal operators and organised crime c

In late 2020, the Spanish government implemented a comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising and promotions. The legislation, Royal Decree 958/2020, included the banning of welcome bonuses, restricting advertising to late-night hours, prohibiting celebrity endorsements, and cutting ties between gambling operators and sports sponsorships. Aimed at reducing gambling harm, particularly among young and vulnerable people, the restrictions significantly altered the market in