# Cabinet starts further study into selling the Nederlandse Loterij

> The cabinet is studying how the national lottery could be privatised, including how to protect against gambling harm and keep funding for good causes, with results due by the second half of 2027.

Economy · published 2026-10-13 14:32 · https://nlnow.nl/a/cabinet-orders-further-study-into-selling-the-nederlandse-loterij/

The cabinet is starting a further study into options for selling the Nederlandse Loterij, the national lottery. The study aims to give a full picture of the different ways to sell it. The Ministry of Finance says the results will go to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of parliament, by the second half of 2027 at the latest.

The study builds on the 2023 report "Verkenning toekomstvarianten NLO" and is carried out with the help of an external adviser. The State Secretary for Finance will give parliament an interim progress update in the first quarter of 2027.

The study focuses on protecting the public interest. That includes protection against gambling harm and making sure games of chance are offered responsibly. The study will also take developments in gambling in recent years into account.

It will also examine how the good causes that now receive money from the lottery could keep that support after any privatisation. In addition, it will map the required changes to laws and regulations, how each privatisation option would work in practice, the effect on total donations to good causes in civil society, and the financial consequences for the state.

A full debate on the options for privatisation will follow. If privatisation is decided, lawmaking and the sale will begin, a process expected to take several years.

## Background

- **Nederlandse Loterij**: The state-owned company that runs the national lottery games, such as the Staatsloterij and Lotto. Part of its proceeds goes to good causes in sport, culture and charity, which is why any sale has to settle how that money keeps flowing.
- **Tweede Kamer**: The House of Representatives, the lower and more powerful house of the Dutch parliament. Its 150 members are elected directly; it can amend bills and holds the cabinet to account.

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