Holland Casino, the prominent Dutch state-owned operator, concluded 2024 with a decrease in annual revenue and a significant dip in pre-tax profits, reflecting the financial pressures it faced during the year. Despite these challenges, the company ended the year on a cautiously optimistic note, underscoring operational progress in key areas such as responsible gaming.

Financial decline amid increased tax burden:

The casino’s total revenue for 2024 amounted to €784 million, representing a 4.1% decline from the previous year’s €817.7 million. This drop of €33.7 million was coupled with a pre-tax profit of just €-1.3 million, a sharp contrast to the €31.9 million profit posted in 2023. While the online segment took a considerable hit, with revenue plummeting by nearly 27% to €85.2 million, the company’s land-based operations fared slightly better. Revenue from Holland Casino’s physical branches dipped modestly to €698.8 million, a 0.4% decrease.

However, the operator highlighted an encouraging rise in visitor numbers, with 5.2 million people visiting its locations in 2024, up from 5.1 million in the previous year. This increase, the company suggested, was a positive sign of customer appreciation for the services provided. Notably, the Venlo branch received the prestigious title of Best Casino in Europe, and the Utrecht branch was lauded for its sustainability efforts.

One of the most pressing concerns raised by Holland Casino in its annual report was the proposed increase in gambling taxes. In 2024, the casino paid a total of €222.6 million in taxes, a considerable sum that already represents a significant portion of its revenue. However, the Dutch government has announced plans to increase the gambling tax rate to 37.8% in 2026, a move that has sparked widespread concern within the industry.

Holland Casino has urged the government to reconsider this increase, arguing that with the total tax burden exceeding 50% of revenue, the proposed fiscal policies would make it financially unfeasible to meet the government’s objectives for safer gambling. CEO Petra de Ruiter expressed frustration with the conflicting nature of these policies, emphasizing that while the government pushes for higher standards of responsible gambling, the proposed tax hike would severely limit the company’s ability to invest in these initiatives.

De Ruiter noted that, despite the financial difficulties, the company remains committed to its mission of providing safe and responsible gaming environments. She stated in the company’s press release, “Despite the result and the challenges ahead, 2024 was a good year, and I am proud of the organization. We remain fully committed to safe and responsible gaming, and we have made very good progress in this area.”

Investing in responsible gaming and prevention:

In line with its commitment to responsible gambling, Holland Casino took significant steps in 2024 to enhance its prevention measures. Notably, the casino discontinued offering 24/7 gaming at its Rotterdam and Amsterdam-West branches. Additionally, a new risk detection system was implemented for online gambling, and internal processes were refined to identify and respond to signs of problematic gambling more efficiently.

The company also simplified its public communications to a B1 language level, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Furthermore, the prevention advisory board was strengthened to bolster efforts in creating safer gaming environments. Despite a slight decline in preventative interactions, both in-person and online, Holland Casino noted an increase in interventions at its land-based locations, signaling improved engagement with guests on responsible gaming issues.

Looking towards the future, Holland Casino anticipates stable revenue figures in the first quarter of 2025, thanks to the cost-saving measures already in place. However, the company’s leadership acknowledges that further belt-tightening may no longer be sustainable. De Ruiter remarked, “With the – sometimes painful – cost-saving measures taken, we believe that the stretch is largely over.”