The Netherlands Social Issue in the Prohibition of Online Gambling

Nov.03, 2009 in Uncategorized

The world of gambling got a major boost in number of players and in popularity since the ascension of the internet, specifically online gambling. Gambling is simply a way to make sporting events more interesting and enjoyable. Legalizing gambling activities, our society have higher possibility to become addicted in this game in one form or another.

The Netherlands is facing this kind of situation where online gambling addiction is the main issue. The government is pursuing any possible ways to limit online gambling and having more advertising to run gambling in the entire state. It seems that the country is in collision with the European Union. The country is doing their best to follow the footsteps of the United States by increasing their efforts towards online gambling by making it illegal in processing bank transactions and other credit card companies from Dutch citizens to any foreign gambling operators.

Addiction is the main issue of the government for having an online gambling prohibition in the country with harmful negative consequences that could bring. According to De Volkskrant, The Hague has no European Union laws about gambling and only the Netherlands have rights to contradict the laws to prevent criminal activity and gambling addiction. The EU internal market commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, points out that the actions of the Dutch in preventing foreign access to online gambling is creating a monopolize gaming industry to the nation. The situation will become worst because there is only one provider of the service in the country. Monopoly creates a lot of fear to the gamblers because they mean that even in this capitalist society, people cannot get the best services for their money. The monopolies slow down innovation and efficiency, acquiring other companies when they do not have the leading services, and raising prices to make more money. He also stressed out by having a monopolistic gambling led to a questionable answer in addiction. There is no sufficient proof that the gambling crime was reduced. Excessive gambling can cause harm to the gambler or someone else in any way that leads to a certain crime. McCreevy highly believes that the country is pursuing its monopolistic gambling expansion. Like in the case of these two commercial gambling venues in the Netherlands, the state-owned De Lotto and Holland Casino.

The Dutch Supreme Court approved a measure allowing the Holland Casino, a major government-owned land-based casino operator to offer Internet casino gaming as an extension of its land-based gaming services. This form of Internet gaming is limited to traditional casino games and is available only to residents of Holland. Like many European Internet gambling models, the Netherlands does not allow its citizens to gamble online through foreign gambling operators. The European Commission made criticism to the Dutch enforced gambling laws. They wanted that the online gambling will be covered by the organization’s open market policy that could access to foreign gambling operators. Many foreign companies are trying to put up casinos in the Ducth country but all of their licenses have been denied by the government.

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