Netherlands seeks to allow online gambling

[The Buzz]

Over the weekend the Dutch government said it wanted to start issuing licenses for online gambling companies in the country. If this sounds like a complete 180 from what the government has advocated in the past, well it is.

The Netherlands had defended an online gambling ban all the way up to the European Union's highest court.

From Reuters:

"It is a big shift (in policy), but this is a new government with a more liberal approach," said Jaap Oosterveer, a spokesman for the Dutch ministry of public safety and justice.

In a letter sent to the Dutch parliament on Saturday, Fredrik Teeven, state secretary of security and justice, wrote that hundreds of thousands of Dutch defied a ban by gambling online, and so a change in the law would allow more oversight.

Several European countries such as France, Italy, Austria, Britain and Sweden already regulate online gambling, and the Netherlands should also be offering licenses for online games such as poker, bingo and sports betting, Teeven wrote.

[cassy]

Well, this is a good news for Netherlands residents who have been an enthusiast of online gambling. And if the said license will be approved, then Netherlands will become part of the growing industry.

[Gabriel_LCP]

Well this is great news from an already liberal country! We'll just have to wait and see what happens

[alexpratt]

There is actually a good thread in Casinomeister from a Dutch player about this being bad news as he sees it like France where they may well close casino or all his favourite brand sleeve because they can't afford or don't want to pay for a licence so his choice of where to play is dramatically reduced.....he also says that the gov will then also not where he is playing and for how much which could have tax implications.

Very interesting take on how regulation isn't necessarily a good thing for the player....

[tommydanger]

In my oppinion it is bit negative to focus on possible downsides allready, the situation as it is now will not hold and therefor it could have gone the way of the US or this more liberal way it is going now, I know which one I prefer!

[casinochipsj]

it is better than having it banned

[JoeAdams]

Maybe their move was mainly influenced by their other neighbor countries that already considered online gambling legalization plus the fact that it can significantly contribute to their tax revenues.

[wagerjunction]

There is actually a good thread in Casinomeister from a Dutch player about this being bad news as he sees it like France where they may well close casino or all his favourite brand sleeve because they can't afford or don't want to pay for a licence so his choice of where to play is dramatically reduced.....he also says that the gov will then also not where he is playing and for how much which could have tax implications.

Very interesting take on how regulation isn't necessarily a good thing for the player....

As with many things actually, a decision can have both positive and negative impacts simultaneously.

At the same time though, what is there to do? Usually what governments want governments get.