Nederlandse Loterij has taken full ownership of Lotify, a Dutch digital platform used for organising fundraising lotteries and competitions. The state-owned gaming operator had already held a majority stake in the company since 2021. It now believes that full control will strengthen its role in the charity and community lottery market across the Netherlands.

Lotify is widely used by sports federations, local clubs, charities, events and businesses. The platform helps these groups run compliant lotteries that follow Dutch rules. Financial details of the acquisition were not shared, but Nederlandse Loterij says the move fits its long-term strategy to support fundraising activities nationwide.

Lotify to Boost Fundraising Opportunities

Arjan Blok, CEO of Nederlandse Loterij, said the takeover will help more organisations raise money, especially during tough times. With Lotify now fully part of the company, he believes they can offer better support to sports clubs, charities and community groups that depend on extra funding.

He added that Lotify will now benefit from the lottery operator’s larger network and experience, allowing the platform to grow and provide easier and safer tools for running lotteries.

Lotify founder Guy van Iperen also supported the move. He said that after four years of working closely together, this was the right moment to hand full control to Nederlandse Loterij. He is proud of what they built and is confident the platform will continue to grow under its new owner.

Operators Face Higher Gambling Taxes

The takeover comes at a challenging moment for gambling operators in the Netherlands. The government has approved a rise in gambling tax that will take effect in two stages. The first increase began in early 2025, raising the rate to 34.2 percent of gross gaming revenue. A second increase will take place on 1 January 2026, lifting the rate to 37.8 percent.

Nederlandse Loterij and other licensed operators have warned that the higher taxes may reduce funding for public projects and weaken the regulated market. Because Nederlandse Loterij is state owned, its operations are already more limited than those of private companies. The government recently confirmed that Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino will remain state controlled, ending speculation about possible privatisation.

Industry Groups Warn of Financial Risks

Industry concerns grew further in August when the trade group VNLOK said the increased tax rate could lead to a shortfall of about 200 million euros. This figure conflicts with earlier expectations from the Ministry of Finance, which predicted an additional 200 million euros per year from 2025 to 2028.

Against this backdrop, Nederlandse Loterij hopes that the full integration of Lotify will strengthen its ability to support sports, charities and local organisations that depend on sustainable fundraising.