The state-owned Holland Casino group is unlikely to be sold to the private sector before 2020, several years later than planned, junior finance minister Menno Snel has told parliament.

The previous government had planned to sell the casinos by the end of 2017 but a ‘number of administrative hurdles’ still have to be taken, a spokesman for Snel told the Financieele Dagblad.

In addition, the senate still has to approve the amendments to the Dutch law on gambling, the spokesman said.

The Holland Casino group, which runs 14 casinos nationwide, was set up in 1974 to offer a legal alternative for illegal gambling dens.

Ministers agreed in 2014 to split up and sell off the company. Ten of the 14 branches will be sold off under their current name while the other four locations will be sold as a group. The cabinet is also planning to open up the casino market to new providers  – with two licences up for grabs.