In its recent action, the government in Holland might be causing a reaction of the European Commission, namely, an endeavor to persuade the involved banks in not working with firms from other European Union countries who participate in the Dutch gambling market. 

Reuters’s reports are making a lot of fuss about a spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice, over the weekend, who claimed that authorities in Holland plan to clamp down on unlawful Internet casinos and are asking banks to avoid servicing financially these companies.

The spokesperson stated that it was unlawful to provide services for gambling in Holland if a license is not held by the company. She further claimed that these firms are carrying out illegal activities, and confirmed that Unibet the Internet gambling company in Sweden and the private Oranje Casino in Holland have been targeted. The spokeswoman refused to elaborate any more apart from these two firms’ identification, however it seems that the ministry has prepared a listing of thirty to fifty other online gambling companies and in regard to these companies has requested that Dutch banks cease working with them.

According to the spokesperson, as this is a problem for Holland, only those Dutch banks have been requested to take part, claiming that the files would be delivered to the prosecutor general who would be responsible for making charges in court against them.

This action continues to maintain the troublesome policy of the government in Holland of keeping the state lottery, namely, De Lotto, with the only gaming license in Holland. This political strategy has lately been expanded to the operations of Holland Casino, the local actual casino, where intentions to inaugurate a renewed Internet platform were frozen in the wake of the parliament in Holland taking a negative vote on the matter. 

In its involvement of the banking sphere in preventing firms from other EU countries from the Dutch gambling market, Holland might begin further controversy with the EU, which has already issued warnings to the Dutch government that it is contravening the demands of the EU for services and goods having free movement. The Dutch government could end up in the Court of Justice of Europe this year as it has received a final warning on this issue.

Posted on: May 29, 2008

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