Summary of the Netherlands Act on Games of Chance (Act of 10-12-1964)

Title I General clauses

sect. 1 general prohibition

Section 1, under a, contains a general prohibition to conduct a competition for prices or premiums if the winners are pointed out by any form of chance, unless license is issued by the appropriate authorities.
 

• local authorities, when the total amount of prices does not exceed 4.500 euro, and otherwise by:
• the Department of Justice;

• various (licenses for incidental local or national lotteries and licenses for permanent lotteries; the Department of Justice issues approximately 150 licenses each year);

• Gaming control board, only for lotteries with a total amount of prices exceeding 4.500.000 euro (there are three such lotteries: bankgiro lottery, postalcode lottery and sponsor lottery);

• license can only be given if the profits derived from a lottery serve purposes of general interest (charitable purposes);
• from each lottery at least 50% of the turnover must be destined for these charitable purposes (the total amount of prices and other costs related to organizing a lottery may thus not exceed 50% of the turnover);
• no participation for people under 18 years.

• the Department of Justice;

• few to none;

• license can only be given for investments to serve purposes of general interest.

• Chambers of Commerce;

• various shopkeepers' associations;

• license can be given only twice a year;
• the total amount of prices may not exceed 10.750 euro;
• participation for consumers is free.

• local authorities (no license is required, but due warning of sessions must be given in advance to the local authorities);

• various at least three years existing societies, established and conducted for purposes not connected with gaming, betting or lotteries;

• the total amount of prices may not exceed 1.400 euro per meeting;
• any profits which may arise are paid into the society's treasury or given to some deserving social cause.