The first Holland Casino, which opened in Zandvoort in 1967, will close in February 2025 because it is no longer profitable.

A change in visitor behaviour and worsening market conditions have contributed to the closure, company CEO Petra de Ruiter said. “It’s an emotional goodbye to our first Holland Casino,” she said.

The company expects to be able to provide jobs for the 120 Zandvoort staff at the casino’s other locations.

The state-owned casino group posted a loss of €3.5 million in the first six months of 2024 compared to a €17 million profit in the same period in the previous year. High personnel costs are a contributing factor, the company said.

Losses may mount even more because of a 7.3% tax hike on gambling, which will come into effect in 2025, taking the tax to 37.8%.

Holland Casino was set up over 45 years ago to offer a legal alternative to underground gambling operations and is the only company licenced to operate a physical casino. It also offers online gambling.

It operates 14 casinos across the country, including the Zandvoort location, and employs some 4,000 people.

More closures may follow if  “aggressive campaigns” to lure new customers fail, De Ruiter said earlier.