Dutch Senate Votes Against Granting Online Gaming Monopoly
April 4th, 2008
The Upper House of the Dutch Senate has narrowly defeated a bill that would have given Holland Casino a monopoly on online gaming in the Netherlands.
The proposal was defeated by a majority of two votes, and ends the hopes of Holland Casino’s entry into the online gaming space. It is believed that Ministers voted against the bill because they were wary of granting an exclusive licence to a state-owned operator at a time when the European Commission is considering infringement proceedings against the Dutch gambling monopoly.
While some have welcomed the decision as a victory for private operators, others fear it will have a bolstering effect on the country’s restrictive gaming laws. By blocking the state-owned company from providing online gaming opportunities, the Dutch may now be able to more forcefully defend their position against the European Commission.
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