SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Netherlands’ Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party is mounting up the pressure on the Dutch government for a potential ban on online gambling.
In a recent communiqué, party MP Inge van Dijk directly addressed Finance Minister Eelco Heinen and the Dutch Tax Affairs State Secretary, Folkert Idsinga, on the matter.
Reported by Casinonieuws.nl, the CDA MP also expressed concerns regarding the competitive viability of the state-owned Holland Casino establishment in the current market landscape.
“The state must sell off Holland Casino,” reads the title of van Dijk’s official line of questioning, submitted to both Heinen and Idsinga, where she likens the current model under which the state casino is being run to “mopping while the tap is open”.
This comparison stems from the CDA MP’s belief that the government’s long-term strategy of ensuring responsible gambling practices – especially through its Holland Casino property – is being muddied by the fact that private online gambling operators are being handed ‘30 licences a day’.
Online gambling in the Netherlands was placed under regulation back in 2021 with the introduction of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act).
Former Legal Protection Minister Franc Weerwind, who took the role in 2022 – and with that the duties to oversee the gambling market, committed his time in power to optimise the legislation so that it fosters a better gambling market.
Even after Weerwind’s departure from politics earlier this year, a number of reforms that he managed to push through the Kamer are set to take place later in October.
However, criticism of the Act has been piling up since its inception. This reached a boiling point in 2023 when the CDA vowed to introduce a “private members bill” led by CDA MP Anne Kuik to try and withdraw the KOA Act – a motion which is yet to see the light of day.
A more significant reformist victory was achieved in April, when a KOA revision to ban almost all online gambling advertising was voted in by Dutch MPs.
Most recently, Teun Struycken, who is Weerwind’s replacement under the new government, was put under the spotlight by MPs and asked whether he’ll finalise the gambling ad ban by including social media to the already existing prohibition regarding TV, radio and print.
